Airway management in critically ill patients
Airway management in critically ill patients is associated with high rates of major adverse events, with hypotension or need for rescue vasopressors in up to 43% of procedures.
Patients with moderate-to-severe hypoxaemia and significantly reduced functional residual capacity should receive positive pressure preoxygenation to increase the safe apnoea time.
The patient should be optimised haemodynamically and i.v. anaesthetic agents selected carefully before tracheal intubation.
Videolaryngoscopy increases first-pass intubation success rate and should be considered for all critically ill patients needing intubation.
Thanks to the authors.
