Leaderboard

I work in one of the services you mention. I can absolutely confirm BC ALS providers will not buy into the proposed SGA versus ETI study. We have some of the best resuscitation and first pass ETI rates in Canada. I suspect the ETI success rate in BC is largely attributable to the fact an average ALS provider can expect to perform at minimum 20 to 30 intubations per year. The damned if you do damned if you don't part of the whole thing is that the systems you need to play ball, like BCAS and Seattle King County, are the most likely to pack up their things and go home should such a study be dropped on them. Possible reasons for these services success rates are numerous. Here are a few of the easily identifiable culprits for anyone not familiar with these services. 1) High level of intubation experience. 2) CPR continued and never stopped during intubation attempts (This is drilled in at every opportunity. CPR does not stop for intubation) 3) Regular Airway Management review/training (BCAS uses the AIMS program) 4) High levels of cardiac arrest management experience (ALS providers can expect to work at minimum 15 to 20 arrests per year) 5) Increased venous return as a result of eliminating intrinsic peep via intubation (something that does not happen using an EGD) The number of variables are staggering when you really start to look at it. What is best in one service delivery model is not necessarily best in another.