Airway management

 

The Staged Extubation Set is the first product specifically indicated for tracheal extubation and reintubation, adding to Cook Medical’s comprehensive airway management product offering.

 

The set includes a Staged Extubation Wire, which is used to maintain continuous airway access, and a Staged Reintubation Catheter, used to facilitate a successful reintubation if required. This product will fill a gap in the market and help intensive care and emergency medicine personnel to deal with difficult airways during a planned extubation.

 

“Managing patient airways in an emergency situation can be very difficult and problems may occur following a tracheal extubation if the patient isn’t able to breathe independently. Good preparation is key to a successful extubation strategy, characterised by the expectation that reintubation could be managed without difficulty,” said Dr Peter Young, Clinical Director, Critical Care at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

 

Airway failure during extubation is a significant risk for all patients and even more so amongst certain high risk patient groups such as those with obesity, obstructive sleep apnoea and the elderly. These patient cohorts, with difficult airways, require a clear extubation strategy to allow for potential complications during the procedure.

 

Staged extubation brings several benefits including avoidance of complications associated with failed or difficult reintubation[1] and the ability to trial the extubation process earlier while maintaining secure airway access.[2] A study with an airway catheter also showed a fivefold higher success rate of first-attempt reintubation.[2]

 

“Cook Medical is a recognised leader in airway management and now offers a full range of difficult airway devices; intubation, exchange, extubation and reintubation. We are delighted to see that the Staged Extubation Set is now available in Europe, the only approved extubation set on the market”, said Lynn Luebberst, Global Market Manager for Cook Medical’s Critical Care clinical division.

1. Mort T. Emergency tracheal intubation: complications associated with repeated laryngoscopic attempts. Anesth Analg. 2004; 99 (2):607-613
2. Mort T. Continuous airway access for the difficult extubation: the efficacy of the airway exchange catheter. Anesth Analg. 2007; 105 (5):1357-1362.