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Airway & ventilation
Automated ventilation wins in helicopter short-haul
Manual versus Automated Ventilation with an i-gel® Airway During Short-Haul Helicopter Operations
Prehospital Emergency Care · Added 6 May 2026
Simulation study comparing bag-valve ventilation with automated ventilation during short-haul helicopter rescue using an i-gel — automated ventilation achieved target minute ventilation more consistently, caused less airway movement, and avoided disconnects.
- Study type
- Simulation
- Design
- Prospective simulation crossover study with manikin and i-gel
- Participants
- 9 stretcher attendants (static), 6 (live) short-haul tests
- Main finding
- Automated ventilation achieved target minute ventilation in 100% of tests vs 67% (static) and 33% (live) manual; manual caused greater i-gel movement and four disconnects vs none (differences not statistically significant, p=0.25 and 0.12).
- Caveat
- Very small simulation study, manikin only, not statistically powered
- Bottom line
- Hypothesis-generating
Learning goal
Weigh the risks of manual versus automated ventilation through a supraglottic airway during retrieval transport.
More
- Topic: Airway & ventilation
- Daily scan: 6 May 2026
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