The last episode of the ETM Podcast (available here) with Bruce Paix generated a lot of comments on the blog and activity on Twitter. Scott Weingart (from EMCrit) very politely asked for some air-time to make a few additional comments on the topic of surgical airways and we were more than happy to oblige.
Andrew managed to get Scott on the line for what I’m sure you’ll agree is a great addition to, or extension of the podcast with Bruce in which he and Andrew discuss the novice vs expert approach to this procedure with some great pearls on mindset and training, the rationale for his approach to cricothyroidotomy (which differs from Bruce’s), the utility of the bougie and a bunch of other practical tips. Scott also tells us how he would approach a surgical airway in a paediatric patient.
These two episodes combined are an outstanding #FOAMed resource and are perhaps one of the most comprehensive overviews of the hands-on, practical approach to emergency surgical airways available anywhere.
It’s also timely as since the last episode was posted, ANZCA has clarified their position in response to the Royal College of Anaesthetists UK statement on the subject of CICO and surgical airways, which you can read here.
Huge thanks again to Bruce Paix for his interview, huge thanks to Scott Weingart and of course thanks to Andrew Perry for recording these two excellent episodes.