Audit of emergency airway drugs and equipment at a Johannesburg hospital

Abstract

In-hospital advanced life support and acute airway management is critically time sensitive and requires the immediate availability of key equipment. While most acute airway emergencies present to emergency centres, clinical deterioration may occur at any point during a patient's care process. Thus, all areas of the hospital should be equipped to provide acute airway management. The aim of this study was to audit the availability and functioning of emergency airway equipment and drugs at a large academic Johannesburg hospital. A prospective, observational, cross-sectional spot audit was conducted at nineteen patient care units at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH), Johannesburg, SA from January to March 2018. Using a modified list of equipment and drugs derived from the EMSSA Practice Guideline of Rapid Sequence Intubation, each unit's emergency trolley was spot audited by a single Investigator, assessing both availability and if the equipment was in good working order. A selection of drugs was assessed for availability and location. Overall, approximately two thirds (67%) of the listed equipment were available and in working order in the audited units. Almost a third (31%) of the listed equipment was not available at all, while 2% of the equipment was available but not working. The Intensive Care Unit, Medical Emergency Unit and Trauma Unit had the highest (≥80%) of available and working equipment, with the Psychiatry Ward and the Labour Ward having the lowest percentage (≤45%). This audit highlights specific deficiencies in emergency airway management equipment within this institution, as well as the need for improved strategies to address equipment shortages. The causes for these shortages were not explored. Recommendations following this audit include further qualitative research to explore and address the barriers to well stocked emergency trolleys, the standardization of equipment checklists and to provide regular staff training in resuscitation.