Time to adequate oxygenation following ventilation using the Enk oxygen flow modulator versus a jet ventilator via needle cricothyrotomy in rabbits.
INTRODUCTION
Limited information is available on the management of the 'cannot intubate, cannot ventilate' (CICV) situation in infants. We compared the time to achieve adequate oxygenation following rescue ventilation using the Enk oxygen flow modulator (OFM) with a jet ventilator in a simulated CICV situation using the rabbit as an infant respiratory model.


METHODS
Following institutional ethics committee approval, needle cricothyrotomy was performed under direct vision in nine anesthetized rabbits following surgical exposure of the larynx. After ensuring adequate level of anesthesia and analgesia, and confirming proper positioning of the 18G cannula, apnea was induced by the administration of myorelaxant and the SpO2 was allowed to drop to 75% before initiating rescue ventilation via either the OFM or jet ventilator.


RESULTS
Five rabbits were ventilated with the OFM and four with the jet ventilator. Ventilation was maintained with either device for 15 min. All rabbits were successfully rescued using either device. There was no statistical difference in the time required for SpO2 to return to 80%, 85%, 90%, and 95%.


CONCLUSIONS
Both devices facilitated successful rescue ventilation through a needle cricothyrotomy.
['Wong|Carrie F P|CF|', 'Yuen|Vivian M|VM|', 'Wong|Gordon T C|GT|', 'To|Jensen|J|', 'Irwin|Michael G|MG|']
D000818:Animals D001049:Apnea D001784:Blood Gas Analysis D001794:Blood Pressure D002245:Carbon Dioxide D003413:Cricoid Cartilage D005240:Feasibility Studies D006339:Heart Rate D006611:High-Frequency Jet Ventilation D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration D000860:Hypoxia D010100:Oxygen D011817:Rabbits D012121:Respiration, Artificial D013965:Thyroidectomy D016896:Treatment Outcome D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical
infant animal model children difficult airway