Implementing the Safe Airway Checklist (SAC) at the emergency department of a major teaching hospital in Rwanda: A pre- and post-intervention study

Background

Airway management is a critical aspect of emergency care, and adherence to standardized protocols can improve patient outcomes. However, in resource-limited settings such as Rwanda, the implementation of airway management protocols in the emergency department (ED) may face challenges. This study aims to evaluate the impact of implementing the Safe Airway Checklist (SAC) on airway management practices and post-intubation complications in a major teaching hospital in Rwanda.

Methods

A pre- and post-intervention study design was used to assess the impact of the SAC on intubation practices and post-intubation checklist in the ED at the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali. The study included a baseline assessment of residents’ intubation practices, followed by implementation of the SAC, and post-implementation data collection to evaluate changes in adherence to airway management practices and post-intubation complications.

Results

Among 77 intubation (40 pre-intervention and 37 post-intervention), the implementation of the SAC led to improvement in 4 key airway management practices (airway cart and glidescope setup, premedication use, restraining patients, and checking ABG within 10–15 min) in the ED. However, the reduction in rates of post-intubation complications was not statistically significant.

Conclusion

The implementation of the Safe Airway Checklist in the ED of a major teaching hospital in Rwanda significantly improved several critical aspects of airway management. While no statistically significant reduction in post-intubation complications were observed, the decreasing trend of complication rates suggests promising benefits that merit further exploration. These findings highlight the value of standardized checklists in enhancing clinical practices and underscore the need for ongoing research to fully understand their impact on patient outcomes especially in low resources settings.