Quantitative description of the workload associated with airway managementprocedures

Study Objectives: To measure the workload associated with specific airway m anagement tasks. Setting and Intervention: Written survey instrument. Patients: 166 Stanford University and 75 University of California, San Dieg o, anesthesia providers. Measurements and Main Results: Subjects were asked to use a seven-point Lik ert-type scale to rate the level of perceived workload associated with diff erent airway management tasks with respect to the physical effort, mental e ffort, and psychological stress they require to perform in the typical clin ical setting. The 126 subjects completing questionnaires (overall 52% respo nse rate) consisted of 43% faculty, 26% residents, 23% community practition ers, and 8% certified registered nurse-anesthetists (CRNAs). Faculty physic ians generally scored lower workload measures than residents, whereas commu nity practitioners had the highest workload scores. Overall, workload ratin gs were lowest for laryngeal mash airway (LMA) insertion and highest for aw ake fiberoptic intubation. Airway procedures performed on sleeping patients received lower workload ratings than comparable procedures performed on aw ake patients. Direct visualization procedures received lower workload ratin gs than fiberoptically guided procedures. Conclusions: These kinds of data may permit more objective consideration of the nonmonetary costs of technical anesthesia procedures. The potential cl inical benefits of the use of more complex airway management techniques may be partially offset by the impact of increased workload on other clinical demands. (C) 2000 by Elsevier Science Inc.