Laryngeal mask versus endotracheal intubation for pre-hospital emergency airway management: a meta-analysis of randomized control studies

Abstract Background : Pre-hospital emergency airway management plays an important role in pre-hospital care. Laryngeal masks are increasingly employed for the airway management of pre-hospital critical patients and have achieved promising results. Although several randomized controlled trials have reported benefits, the efficacy of laryngeal masks in pre-hospital emergency airway management compared to endotracheal intubation have not been systematically reviewed. Methods: Electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus and CNKI) were searched up to April 2019 for related randomized studies. Outcome indicators included overall intubation success rates, the success rates of the first intubation, insertion time, resuscitation efficiency rates, SpO2 rise time, the blood gas index and adverse events. Two investigators selected the trials, extracted the data according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, and assessed the quality of the literature according to the Jada score. The meta-analysis was performed using stata14.0 software. Results: We included 31 human studies. Compared to endotracheal intubation, the application of laryngeal mask for pre-hospital emergencies enhanced the resuscitation efficiency rates [RR=1.20, 95% CI (1.06, 1.35), P<0.001], improved the success of first intubation [RR=1.29, 95% CI (1.18, 1.40), P<0.001] and the patients’ blood gas index, shortened the insertion and SpO2 rise times [SMD=-3.48, 95% CI (-4.17, -2.80), P < 0.001; -2.19, 95% CI (-3.06, -1.32), P < 0.001] and reduced the incidence of adverse events [RR=0.41, 95% CI (0.30, 0.57, P<0.001]. All results were stable and statistically significant. Conclusions: Laryngeal masks could quickly and effectively improve patient ventilation in pre-hospital emergencies, highlighting its utility for clinical application.