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New Innovation and Idea | Anaesthesiology | India | Volume 12 Issue 1, January 2023
COVID Innovations in Airway Management the Thalaiva Techniques
Sathya Narayanan .K | Geeta Bhandari | Ilango Ganesan | Kedar Singh Shahi
Abstract: Aim: Innovative techniques employed to manage airway during COVID pandemic and other jugaad techniques inside operation room during emergencies. Background: These following innovations were made during residency days and it included an aerosol shield from cardboards and clothes hangers, a simple hack to ventilate two patients from one single source of oxygen named as Biventilation from a single oxygen (BVSO), a needle cricothyroidtomy made from a suction nelaton catheter and a blood warmer using convection principle. These innovative ideas along with a manual resuscitator made up of an intravenous fluid bottle-SAMBU were presented as a paper in powerpoint format during 1st YUVA ISACON 2020 on 5th and 6th September, 2020 organized by ISA-A Virtual Conference and won 1s t prize in Innovation category. Technique: A 'No cost aerosol shield' to prevent aerosol blast during laryngoscopy and intubation made from metallic cloth hangers, Cardboard roll / metal pipe / plastic pipe, Transparent sheets, HMEF filter. BVSO is a connections simply made out of silicon Y piece with multiple connectors and Et Tube 15 mm connectors from which one can make a bifid O2 supply from a single oxygen source. Two breathing circuits can be attached and two different patients could be ventilated with parameters (tidal volume, peep) adjusted accordingly. This can be used in primitive health care settings with limited oxygen supply. A Blood warmer made out of warmed intravenous fluid bottle attached to the stand and tubing of the blood bag is passed through it and it helps in emergency administration of blood in setups where there is warming devices. Conclusion: Innovations in health care is exorbitant and tasking. These simple cheap conman techniques come in handy during demand- supply crises. We need to be frugal in thinking and flexible in action and make our own breakthrough. Clinical Significance: In Resource limited settings like a primary health care facility usually lacking in central oxygen supply and limited oxygen supplies, 'BVSO' helps in emergency ventilation of two patients simultaneously at a time till a definite help arrives. 'Aerosol shield' helps in preventing aerosol blast and since this is reproduceable and cost effective it can be discarded easily after each use.
Keywords: COVID 19, Innovation in Anaesthesia, Airway
Edition: Volume 12 Issue 1, January 2023,
Pages: 206 - 209