Annals of Disaster Medicine

ISSN:1684-193X

Abstract ---Laryngeal mask airway (LMA) has been shown to be an alterative method of definite airway but its role in rescue from confined space has not been determined. One hundred and sixty seven persons who attended the training course of disaster medicine were enrolled as the study population. Sixty two of them were men whereas the other 105 women. Thirty four of the study population were medical doctors, 95 nurses, 30 emergency medical technicians, and 8 laypersons. We arranged a workshop of confined space medicine. The comparison of applicability between conventional endotracheal intubation and LMA was made. Before evaluation, every participant accepted detailed illustration and demonstration of the skills. Every one was asked to perform airway management for the manikins in confined space with face down, sitting position, side position and ¡§reverse¡¨ supine position. The success rate and the time elapse for both endotracheal intubation and LMA application/intubation was compared. Success rate of first LMA application is 100% for all positions which is significantly better than those of endotracheal intubation (85% for sitting position, P<0.01; 80% for side position, P<0.01; 76% for face down, P<0.01; and 74% for ¡§reverse¡¨ supine position, P<0.001). The time elapse for first LMA application was also significantly lower than those of endotracheal intubation (as presented). The success rate and time elapse of first LMA intubation and the number of trials before success was comparable to endotracheal intubation. LMA was preferred as a choice of airway management in confined space rescue.