Book Review

An initial glance at the title of this book may have the majority of paramedics reaching for their JRCALC pocket book (still too big) to see if a clinical update had surreptitiously made its way into its hallowed pages. In actual fact, an increasing number of paramedics are able to perform surgical airways, as the everexpanding scope of practice for our profession continues to incorporate advanced clinical interventions.

Don’t assume for a moment that this text is reserved for those paramedics of the ‘critical care’ persuasion. It appeals to a much broader readership than that, as it addresses not only the performing of a tracheostomy and/or laryngectomy but also the management of the day-to-day needs of a patient with such an airway in situ. For paramedics in particular, information relating to associated complications and various ‘red flags’ are of specific relevance, not simply due to potential airway compromise but also recent initiatives to raise awareness of sepsis in our practice.