Results
Response
Rate. The questionnaire form were completed and returned by 82
(66 percent) of the clinical directors; 54 and 28 forms
were returned after the first and second mailing, respectively.
Data
Evaluation. For this survey report on the attention to
the problem of the difficult airway (DA) at anesthesia
departments in Austria, answers to questions regarding
preoperative airway evaluation, including documentation
and dissemination of the findings and test results, and documentation, dissemination,
and communication of the
experienced DA were evaluated.
Preoperative
Airway Evaluation. During the preoperative evaluation, focused patient interviews
and reviews of available medical records were routinely performed in 78 percent
and the presence of
congenital abnormalities and acquired diseases frequently
associated with a DA was routinely noted in 80 percent.
Physical airway examination was
routinely performed in 90 percent; the tests included mouth
opening, Mallampati classification, cervical
range of motion, measurement of
the thyromental distance, ability to subluxate the mandible, and
measurement of the sternomental distance in 88, 72, 68, 22,
20, and 14 percent, respectively.
Documentation
of Preoperative Findings and Test Results. The findings and test results
were routinely documented in the preoperative evaluation protocol in
74 percent;
the protocols provided specific
entries for DA information in 56 percent.
Documentation
of Arrangements with the Patient. The planned strategies for
airway management arranged with the patient were routinely
documented in the preoperative evaluation protocol in 48 percent;
the protocols provided a specific entry for the documentation of the
arrangements in 28 percent.
Dissemination
of Preoperative Findings and Test Results. Medic alert systems for the previously experienced or anticipated
DA after hospital admission of the patient were
provided in 30 percent; the modalities were attachment of an alert
label on the cover of the medical record and/or placement of the
preoperative evaluation protocol right in front the medical record
in 6 and 30 percent, respectively.
Documentation
of the Experienced Difficult Airway. The experienced DA was
routinely documented in the anesthesia record in 80
percent; the records provided specific entries for DA information in 54 percent.
Dissemination of the Experienced Difficult Airway. In-hospital
medic alert systems for the experienced DA were
provided in 32 percent; the modalities were attachment of an alert
label on the cover of the medical record and placement of the
anesthesia record right in front the medical record
in 6 and 30 percent, respectively.
Communication of the Experienced Difficult Airway. The
experienced DA was routinely communicated in 78 percent; the modalities
were verbal communication with the patient, distribution of a
notification to the patient, distribution of a written report to
the patient, and placement of the written report in an uniform
location within the medical record in 78, 68, 12, and 16 percent,
respectively. In 12 percent, a departmental database for
patients with an experienced DA was established.
Discussion