Airway management techniques in a restricted-access situation: a manikin study

Background Access to patients can be restricted in emergency situations. A variety of techniques and devices are available for use in patients who require oxygenation in a restricted-access situation. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is one ventilation technique that is superior to others. Materials and methods Fifty-four emergency medical services providers including emergency medical technicians, paramedics and physicians were asked to use a bag-valve mask (BVM), a laryngeal mask airway (LMA), and a laryngeal tube (LT) to ventilate a full-scale manikin sitting upright in the driver's seat of a motor vehicle. Access to the manikin was gained through the sid…