Prehospital Pediatric Airway Management

The approach to pediatric airway management in the prehospital setting has become controversial since the publication of a study in 2000 showing the equivalence of bag-mask ventilation and intubation on survival and neurological outcome. This article describes the indications for advanced airway management and the steps taken. This review includes the unique problems identified in training and in maintaining intubation skills in prehospital care providers, risks and benefits of field rapid sequence induction, caring for children with special needs, and providing advanced airway care in the rural setting.

Keywords: emergency medical systems, airway management, out-of-hospital airway devices, EMS airway devices, endotracheal intubation