Dataset Information

Analysis of endotracheal intubation-related judicial precedents in South Korea.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Medical malpractice during endotracheal intubation can result in catastrophic complications. However, there are no reports on these severe complications in South Korea. We aimed to investigate the severe complications associated with endotracheal intubation occurring in South Korea, via medicolegal analysis.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the closed judicial precedents regarding complications related to endotracheal intubation lodged between January 1994 and June 2020, using the database of the Supreme Court of Korea. We collected clinical and judicial characteristics from the judgments and analyzed the medical malpractices related to endotracheal intubation.

Results

Of 220 potential cases, 63 were included in the final analysis. The most common event location was the operating room (n = 20, 31.7%). All but 3 cases were associated with significant permanent or more severe injury, including 31 deaths. The most common problems were failed or delayed intubation (n = 56, 88.9%). Supraglottic airway device was used in 5.2% (n = 3) cases of delayed or failed intubation. Fifty-one (81%) cases were ruled in favor of the plaintiff in the claims for damages, with a median payment of Korean Won 133,897,845 (38,000,000, 308,538,274). The most common malpractice recognized by the court was that of not attempting an alternative airway technique (n = 32, 50.8%), followed by violation of the duty of explanation (n = 10, 15.9%).

Conclusions

Our results could increase physicians' awareness of the major complications related to endotracheal intubation and help ensure patient safety.

SUBMITTER: Cho HY

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8648513 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundLidocaine (LDC) is a local anesthetic widely used to relieve intubation-related airway responses. However, low drug concentration and short effective duration of LDC is inadequate to provide a satisfactory anesthetic effect on the surface of the airway. The present study sought to develop a LDC-delivery endotracheal tube (ETT) to achieve high local drug concentration and sustained drug release with the aim of attenuating an intubation-related airway response.MethodsETTs and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) discs were coated with different molecular weight (MW) poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA: 50/50; MW: 3,000, 6,000, and 10,000) loaded with LDC by airbrush spray. The morphology of LDC-eluting coatings was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. In vitro drug release was determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometer. An in vivo study was performed to investigate the differences in plasma LDC concentration, intubation tolerance, and tracheal tissue injury in rabbits undergoing intubation of blank, LDC-spray, or LDC-coated ETTs.ResultsApproximate 5 mg/cm2 coatings (containing 2.5 mg/cm2 LDC) were deposited onto the PVC discs and ETTs. While even distribution and smooth surfaces were generated in PLGA3000 + LDC and PLGA6000 + LDC coatings, PLGA10000 + LDC formed uneven and gullied coatings. Burst release within the first 4 h and sustained release for at least 5 days was achieved in vitro in PLGA + LDC coatings and the in vivo study demonstrated higher plasma LDC concentration and longer drug release duration in LDC-coated ETTs compared with LDC-spray. LDC-coated ETTs significantly improved intubation tolerance in rabbits, as measured by less general anesthetic consumption and longer tube tolerance duration in contrast to blank ETTs with or without LDC spray. Histology assessment showed less mucosal edema area in the PLGA3000 + LDC and PLGA6000 + LDC groups compared to the control, LDC-spray, and PLGA10000 + LDC groups. Among the different MW PLGAs, PLGA6000 presented optimal morphological characteristics, drug release, and anesthetic effect.ConclusionsETTs coated with PLGA + LDC effectively attenuate an intubation-related airway response via increasing local drug concentration and extending drug action duration, which demonstrates a potential therapeutic benefit for patients undergoing intubation.

Project description:IntroductionPrehospital advanced airway management, including endotracheal intubation (ETI), is one of the most commonly performed advanced life support skills. In South Africa, prehospital ETI is performed by non-physician prehospital providers. This practice has recently come under scrutiny due to lower first pass (FPS) and overall success rates, a high incidence of adverse events (AEs), and limited evidence regarding the impact of ETI on mortality. The aim of this study was to describe non-physician ETI in a South African national sample in terms of patient demographics, indications for intubation, means of intubation and success rates. A secondary aim was to determine what factors were predictive of first pass success.MethodsThis study was a retrospective chart review of prehospital ETIs performed by non-physician prehospital providers, between 01 January 2017 and 31 December 2017. Two national private Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and one provincial public EMS were sampled. Data were analysed descriptively and summarised. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate factors that affect the likelihood of FPS.ResultsA total of 926 cases were included. The majority of cases were adults (n = 781, 84.3%) and male (n = 553, 57.6%). The most common pathologies requiring emergency treatment were head injury, including traumatic brain injury (n = 328, 35.4%), followed by cardiac arrest (n = 204, 22.0%). The mean time on scene was 46 minutes (SD = 28.3). The most cited indication for intubation was decreased level of consciousness (n = 515, 55.6%), followed by cardiac arrest (n = 242, 26.9%) and ineffective ventilation (n = 96, 10.4%). Rapid sequence intubation (RSI, n = 344, 37.2%) was the most common approach. The FPS rate was 75.3%, with an overall success rate of 95.7%. Intubation failed in 33 (3.6%) patients. The need for ventilation was inversely associated with FPS (OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.20-0.88, p = 0.02); while deep sedation (OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.36-0.88, p = 0.13) and no drugs (OR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.25-0.90, p = 0.02) compared to RSI was less likely to result in FPS. Increased scene time (OR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.985-0.997, p < 0.01) was inversely associated FPS.ConclusionThis is one of the first and largest studies evaluating prehospital ETI in Africa. In this sample of ground-based EMS non-physician ETI, we found success rates similar to those reported in the literature. More research is needed to determine AE rates and the impact of ETI on patient outcome. There is an urgent need to standardise prehospital ETI reporting in South Africa to facilitate future research.

Project description:OBJECTIVES:Teleguidance facilitated intubation has recently reemerged during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic as a strategy to provide expert airway management guidance and consultation to practitioners in settings where such expertise is not readily available onsite or in-person. We conducted a scoping review to provide a synthesis of the available literature on teleguidance facilitated intubation. Specifically, we aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of teleguidance facilitated intubation given existing technology. DATA SOURCES:A librarian-assisted search was performed using three primary electronic medical databases from January 2000 to November 2020. STUDY SELECTION:Articles that reported outcomes focused on implementing or evaluating the performance of teleguidance facilitated intubation were included. DATA EXTRACTION:Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts, and full text of articles to determine eligibility. Data extraction was performed using customized fields established a priori within a systematic review software system. DATA SYNTHESIS:Of 255 citations identified, 17 met eligibility criteria. Studies included prospective investigations and proof of technology reports. These studies were performed in clinical and simulation environments. Five of the prospective investigations that examined time to intubation and intubation success rates. Multiple different commercially available and noncommercial teleconference software systems were used in these studies. CONCLUSIONS:There is a limited body of literature evaluating the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of teleguidance facilitated intubation. Based on the studies available that examined a variety of technologies within simulation and clinical environments, teleguidance facilitated intubation appears to be feasible, safe, and efficacious. Given the exponential growth in the use of telemedicine technology during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and the evidence supporting teleguidance facilitated intubation, there is a need to critically evaluate the most effective mechanisms to integrate and optimize these technologies across diverse practice settings.

Project description:ImportanceEndotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation are life-saving treatments for acute respiratory failure but are complicated by significant rates of dyspnea and dysphonia after extubation. Unilateral vocal fold immobility (UVFI) after extubation can alter respiration and phonation, but its incidence, risk factors, and pathophysiology remain unclear.ObjectivesTo determine the incidence of UVFI after prolonged (>12 hours) mechanical ventilation in a medical intensive care unit and investigate associated clinical risk factors for UVFI after prolonged mechanical ventilation.Design, setting, and participantsThis subgroup analysis of a prospective cohort study was conducted in a single-center medical intensive care unit from August 17, 2017, through May 31, 2018, among 100 consecutive adult patients who were intubated for more than 12 hours. Patients were identified within 36 hours of extubation and recruited for study enrollment. Those with an established tracheostomy prior to mechanical ventilation, known laryngeal or tracheal pathologic characteristics, or a history of head and neck radiotherapy were excluded.ExposureInvasive mechanical ventilation via an endotracheal tube.Main outcomes and measuresThe incidence of UVFI as determined by flexible nasolaryngoscopy.ResultsOne hundred patients (62 men [62%]; median age, 58.5 years [range, 19.0-87.0 years]) underwent endoscopic evaluation after extubation. Seven patients had UVFI, of which 6 cases (86%) were left sided. Patients with hypotension while intubated (odds ratio [OR], 10.8; 95% CI, 1.6 to ∞), patients requiring vasopressors while intubated (OR, 16.7; 95% CI, 2.4 to ∞), and patients with a preadmission diagnosis of peripheral vascular disease (OR, 6.2; 95% CI, 1.2-31.9) or coronary artery disease (OR, 5.1; 95% CI, 1.0-25.5) were more likely to develop UVFI.Conclusions and relevanceUnilateral vocal fold immobility occurred in 7 of 100 patients in the medical intensive care unit who were intubated for more than 12 hours. Unilateral vocal fold immobility was associated with inpatient hypotension and preadmission vascular disease, suggesting that ischemia of the recurrent laryngeal nerve may play a role in disease pathogenesis.

Project description:Study objectivePrevious studies suggest improved patient outcomes for providers who perform high volumes of complex medical procedures. Out-of-hospital tracheal intubation is a difficult procedure. We seek to determine the association between rescuer procedural experience and patient survival after out-of-hospital tracheal intubation.MethodsWe analyzed probabilistically linked Pennsylvania statewide emergency medicine services, hospital discharge, and death data of patients receiving out-of-hospital tracheal intubation. We defined tracheal intubation experience as cumulative tracheal intubation during 2000 to 2005; low=1 to 10 tracheal intubations, medium=11 to 25 tracheal intubations, high=26 to 50 tracheal intubations, and very high=greater than 50 tracheal intubations. We identified survival on hospital discharge of patients intubated during 2003 to 2005. Using generalized estimating equations, we evaluated the association between patient survival and out-of-hospital rescuer cumulative tracheal intubation experience, adjusted for clinical covariates.ResultsDuring 2003 to 2005, 4,846 rescuers performed tracheal intubation. These individuals performed tracheal intubation on 33,117 patients during 2003 to 2005 and 62,586 patients during 2000 to 2005. Among 21,753 cardiac arrests, adjusted odds of survival was higher for patients intubated by rescuers with very high tracheal intubation experience; adjusted odds ratio (OR) versus low tracheal intubation experience: very high 1.48 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15 to 1.89), high 1.13 (95% CI 0.98 to 1.31), and medium 1.02 (95% CI 0.91 to 1.15). Among 8,162 medical nonarrests, adjusted odds of survival were higher for patients intubated by rescuers with high and very high tracheal intubation experience; adjusted OR versus low tracheal intubation experience: very high 1.55 (95% CI 1.08 to 2.22), high 1.29 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.59), and medium 1.16 (95% CI 0.97 to 1.38). Among 3,202 trauma nonarrests, survival was not associated with rescuer tracheal intubation experience; adjusted OR versus low tracheal intubation experience: very high 1.84 (95% CI 0.89 to 3.81), high 1.25 (95% CI 0.85 to 1.85), and medium 0.92 (95% CI 0.67 to 1.26).ConclusionRescuer procedural experience is associated with improved patient survival after out-of-hospital tracheal intubation of cardiac arrest and medical nonarrest patients. Rescuer procedural experience is not associated with patient survival after out-of-hospital tracheal intubation of trauma nonarrest patients.