Apneic oxygenation during intubation in the emergency department and during retrieval: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Airway Management in Patients With Acute Brain Injury or Ischemia

BACKGROUND

Airway management and endotracheal intubation are essential skills of emergency medicine. Patients with acute brain injury or ischemia have complex physiology, and without caution, endotracheal intubation can inadvertently lead to secondary brain injury. This article summarizes the evidence behind airway management for patients with acute brain injury or ischemia.

OBJECTIVES

We present data that will help to clarify our recommended actions before, during, and after endotracheal intubation for a patient with acute brain injury or ischemia.

DISCUSSION

The principles described in this article are centered around avoiding secondary brain injury. Before intubation, it is important to avoid extremes of blood pressure, ensure the patient is preoxygenated, and manage elevated intracranial pressure. We recommend performing a full neurological examination, if feasible. During intubation, using a hemodynamically neutral induction agent such as ketamine or etomidate minimizes the risk of hypotension, which can worsen ischemia. Ketamine was traditionally avoided but has been shown to not affect the cerebral perfusion pressure, and thus is acceptable to use in this patient population. We also recommend the use of video laryngoscopy. Following intubation, we recommend adjusting ventilator settings to target eucapnia. Adequate sedation can assist with the management of intracranial pressure. The use of electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring can identify non-convulsive status epilepticus.

CONCLUSION

This evidence-based review of airway management in patients with acute brain injury or ischemia can minimize the risk of secondary brain injury and optimize patient outcomes.

Emergency medicine updates: Endotracheal intubation

INTRODUCTION

Airway management including endotracheal intubation (ETI) is a key skill for emergency clinicians. Therefore, it is important for emergency clinicians to be aware of the current evidence regarding the identification and management of patients requiring ETI.

OBJECTIVE

This paper evaluates key evidence-based updates concerning ETI for the emergency clinician.

DISCUSSION

ETI is commonly performed in the emergency department (ED) setting but has many nuanced components. There are several tools that have been used to predict a difficult airway which incorporate anatomic and physiologic features. While helpful, these tools should not be used in isolation. Preoxygenation and apneic oxygenation are recommended to reduce the risk of desaturation and patient decompensation, particularly with noninvasive ventilation in critically ill patients. Induction and neuromuscular blocking medications should be tailored to the clinical scenario. Video laryngoscopy is superior to direct laryngoscopy among novice users, while both techniques are reasonable among more experienced clinicians. Recent literature suggests using a bougie during the first attempt. Point-of-care ultrasound is helpful for confirming correct placement and depth of the endotracheal tube.

CONCLUSIONS

An understanding of literature updates can improve the ED care of patients requiring emergent intubation.

Current trends in emergency airway management: a clinical review

Airway management is a fundamental and complex process that involves a sequence of integrated tasks. Situations requiring emergency airway management may occur in the emergency department, intensive care units, and various other clinical spaces. A variety of challenges can arise during emergency airway preparation, intubation, and postintubation, which may result in significant complications for patients. Therefore, many countries are establishing step-by-step systemization and detailed guidelines and/or updating their content based on the latest research. This clinical review introduces the current trends in emergency airway management, such as emergency airway management algorithms, comparison of video and direct laryngoscopy, rapid sequence intubation, pediatric airway management, prehospital airway management, surgical airway management, and airway management education.

Effectiveness of preoxygenation strategies: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Preoxygenation is universally recommended before induction of general anaesthesia to prolong safe apnoea time. The optimal technique for preoxygenation is unclear. We conducted a systematic review to determine the preoxygenation technique associated with the greatest effectiveness in adult patients having general anaesthesia.

METHODS

We searched six databases for randomised controlled trials of patients aged ≥16 yr, receiving general anaesthesia in any setting and comparing different preoxygenation techniques and methods. Our primary effectiveness outcome was safe apnoea time, and secondary outcomes included incidence of arterial oxygen desaturation; lowest SpO2 during airway management; time to end-tidal oxygen concentration of 90%; and [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] at the end of preoxygenation. We assessed the quality of evidence according to Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) recommendations.

RESULTS

We included 52 studies of 3914 patients. High-flow nasal oxygen with patients in a head-up position was most likely to be associated with a prolonged safe apnoea time when compared with other strategies, with a mean difference (95% credible interval) of 291 (138-456) s and 203 (79-343) s compared with preoxygenation with a facemask in the supine and head-up positions, respectively. Subgroup analysis of studies without apnoeic oxygenation also showed high-flow nasal oxygen in the head-up position as the highest ranked technique, with a statistically significantly delayed mean difference (95% credible interval) safe apnoea time compared with facemask in supine and head-up positions of 222 (63-378) s and 139 (15-262) s, respectively. High-flow nasal oxygen was also the highest ranked technique for increased [Formula: see text] at the end of preoxygenation. However, the incidence of arterial desaturation was less likely to occur when a facemask with pressure support was used compared with other techniques, and [Formula: see text] was most likely to be lowest when preoxygenation took place with patients deep breathing in a supine position.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoxygenation of adults before induction of general anaesthesia was most effective in terms of safe apnoea time when performed with high-flow nasal oxygen with patients in the head-up position in comparison with facemask alone. Also, high-flow nasal oxygen in the head-up position is likely to be the most effective technique to prolong safe apnoea time among those evaluated. Clinicians should consider this technique and patient position in routine practice.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW PROTOCOL

PROSPERO CRD42022326046.

Effectiveness of trans-nasal humidified rapid insufflation ventilatory exchange compared with standard facemask oxygenation for pre- and apneic oxygenation during anesthesia induction: A meta-analysis based on randomized controlled trials

PURPOSE

To further identify the effectiveness of trans-nasal humidified rapid insufflation ventilatory exchange (THRIVE) for pre- and apneic oxygenation during the anesthesia induction by comparison to facemask ventilation (FMV) based on current available evidence.

METHODS

Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and CNKI databases were searched from inception to December 22, 2023 for available randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Primary outcomes were PaO2 and PaCO2 after intubation and safe apnoea time. Secondary outcomes included the O2 desaturation, end expiratory carbon dioxide (EtCO2) and complications. The effect measures for continuous and categorical outcomes were separately the mean difference (MD) and relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval.

RESULTS

Twelve RCTs with 403 patients in the THRIVE group and 401 patients in th FMV group were included. Pooled results demonstrated that the PaO2 after intubation was significantly higher (MD = 82.90mmHg, 95% CI: 12.25~153.54mmHg, P = 0.02) and safe apnoea time (MD = 103.81s, 95% CI: 42.07~165.56s, P = 0.001) was longer in the THRIVE group. Besides, the incidence rate of O2 desaturation (RR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.12-0.66, P = 0.004) and gastric insufflation (RR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.13-0.49, P<0.001) was significantly lower in the THRIVE group.

CONCLUSION

Based on current evidence, THRIVE manifested better effectiveness representing as improved oxygenation, prolonged safe apnoea time and decreased risk of complications compared to standard FMV in surgical patients. Therefore, THRIVE could be served as a novel and valuable oxygenation technology for patients during anesthesia induction.

Spanish Society of Anesthesiology, Reanimation and Pain Therapy (SEDAR), Spanish Society of Emergency and Emergency Medicine (SEMES) and Spanish Society of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (SEORL-CCC) Guideline for difficult airway management. Part II

The Airway Management section of the Spanish Society of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation, and Pain Therapy (SEDAR), the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES), and the Spanish Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery (SEORL-CCC) present the Guide for the comprehensive management of difficult airway in adult patients. Its principles are focused on the human factors, cognitive processes for decision-making in critical situations, and optimization in the progression of strategies application to preserve adequate alveolar oxygenation in order to enhance safety and the quality of care. The document provides evidence-based recommendations, theoretical-educational tools, and implementation tools, mainly cognitive aids, applicable to airway management in the fields of anesthesiology, critical care, emergencies, and prehospital medicine. For this purpose, an extensive literature search was conducted following PRISMA-R guidelines and was analyzed using the GRADE methodology. Recommendations were formulated according to the GRADE methodology. Recommendations for sections with low-quality evidence were based on expert opinion through consensus reached via a Delphi questionnaire.

Spanish Society of Anesthesiology, Reanimation and Pain Therapy (SEDAR), Spanish Society of Emergency and Emergency Medicine (SEMES) and Spanish Society of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (SEORL-CCC) Guideline for difficult airway management. Part I

The Airway Management section of the Spanish Society of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation, and Pain Therapy (SEDAR), the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES), and the Spanish Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery (SEORL-CCC) present the Guide for the comprehensive management of difficult airway in adult patients. Its principles are focused on the human factors, cognitive processes for decision-making in critical situations, and optimization in the progression of strategies application to preserve adequate alveolar oxygenation in order to enhance safety and the quality of care. The document provides evidence-based recommendations, theoretical-educational tools, and implementation tools, mainly cognitive aids, applicable to airway management in the fields of anesthesiology, critical care, emergencies, and prehospital medicine. For this purpose, an extensive literature search was conducted following PRISMA-R guidelines and was analyzed using the GRADE methodology. Recommendations were formulated according to the GRADE methodology. Recommendations for sections with low-quality evidence were based on expert opinion through consensus reached via a Delphi questionnaire.

Mechanical Ventilation, Past, Present, and Future

Mechanical ventilation (MV) has played a crucial role in the medical field, particularly in anesthesia and in critical care medicine (CCM) settings. MV has evolved significantly since its inception over 70 years ago and the future promises even more advanced technology. In the past, ventilation was provided manually, intermittently, and it was primarily used for resuscitation or as a last resort for patients with severe respiratory or cardiovascular failure. The earliest MV machines for prolonged ventilatory support and oxygenation were large and cumbersome. They required a significant amount of skills and expertise to operate. These early devices had limited capabilities, battery, power, safety features, alarms, and therefore these often caused harm to patients. Moreover, the physiology of MV was modified when mechanical ventilators moved from negative pressure to positive pressure mechanisms. Monitoring systems were also very limited and therefore the risks related to MV support were difficult to quantify, predict and timely detect for individual patients who were necessarily young with few comorbidities. Technology and devices designed to use tracheostomies versus endotracheal intubation evolved in the last century too and these are currently much more reliable. In the present, positive pressure MV is more sophisticated and widely used for extensive period of time. Modern ventilators use mostly positive pressure systems and are much smaller, more portable than their predecessors, and they are much easier to operate. They can also be programmed to provide different levels of support based on evolving physiological concepts allowing lung-protective ventilation. Monitoring systems are more sophisticated and knowledge related to the physiology of MV is improved. Patients are also more complex and elderly compared to the past. MV experts are informed about risks related to prolonged or aggressive ventilation modalities and settings. One of the most significant advances in MV has been protective lung ventilation, diaphragm protective ventilation including noninvasive ventilation (NIV). Health care professionals are familiar with the use of MV and in many countries, respiratory therapists have been trained for the exclusive purpose of providing safe and professional respiratory support to critically ill patients. Analgo-sedation drugs and techniques are improved, and more sedative drugs are available and this has an impact on recovery, weaning, and overall patients' outcome. Looking toward the future, MV is likely to continue to evolve and improve alongside monitoring techniques and sedatives. There is increasing precision in monitoring global "patient-ventilator" interactions: structure and analysis (asynchrony, desynchrony, etc). One area of development is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in ventilator technology. AI can be used to monitor patients in real-time, and it can predict when a patient is likely to experience respiratory distress. This allows medical professionals to intervene before a crisis occurs, improving patient outcomes and reducing the need for emergency intervention. This specific area of development is intended as "personalized ventilation." It involves tailoring the ventilator settings to the individual patient, based on their physiology and the specific condition they are being treated for. This approach has the potential to improve patient outcomes by optimizing ventilation and reducing the risk of harm. In conclusion, MV has come a long way since its inception, and it continues to play a critical role in anesthesia and in CCM settings. Advances in technology have made MV safer, more effective, affordable, and more widely available. As technology continues to improve, more advanced and personalized MV will become available, leading to better patients' outcomes and quality of life for those in need.

Apneic Oxygenation: A Summarized Review and Stepwise Approach

Apneic oxygenation is a technique used during airway management procedures to maintain oxygenation and prevent desaturation during a lack of ventilation. Despite its importance, there is a lack of comprehensive information on how to achieve effective apneic oxygenation, leading to misunderstandings and suboptimal utilization of this technique. Apneic oxygenation involves several key steps. Firstly, patient selection is crucial, considering factors such as anticipated difficulty with airway management, reduced functional residual capacity, increased oxygen consumption, and medical conditions associated with impaired oxygenation. Secondly, adequate preoxygenation is essential to optimize oxygen reserves before the onset of apnea, utilizing methods like non-rebreather oxygen masks or specific breathing techniques. Thirdly, maintaining airway patency through techniques such as jaw thrust or nasopharyngeal airway placement allows for unobstructed airflow during the apneic period. Lastly, the selection of the appropriate oxygen delivery method, such as high-flow nasal oxygen or nasal cannula, depends on the patient's existing respiratory support. Despite the growing body of literature on apneic oxygenation, current review articles often lack a stepwise approach for its proper execution. This knowledge gap contributes to the misunderstanding and underutilization of this important tool during intubation and airway management. In conclusion, apneic oxygenation is a valuable technique for maintaining oxygenation during periods of apnea. However, the lack of comprehensive information and stepwise guidance in the current literature hinders its optimal utilization. Clear guidelines and educational resources should be developed to address this knowledge gap and ensure the safe and effective implementation of apneic oxygenation. By following a stepwise approach that includes patient selection, adequate preoxygenation, airway patency, and appropriate oxygen delivery, healthcare providers can enhance patient outcomes and minimize the risk of desaturation during airway management procedures.

Continuous aerosol monitoring and comparison of aerosol exposure based on smoke dispersion distance and concentrations during oxygenation therapy

This study evaluated the aerosol exposure risks while using common noninvasive oxygenation devices. A simulated mannequin was designed to breathe at a minute ventilation of 20 L/min and used the following oxygen-therapy devices: nasal cannula oxygenation (NCO) at 4 and 15 L/min, nonrebreathing mask (NRM) at 15 L/min, simple mask at 6 L/min, combination of NCO at 15 L/min and NRM at 15 L/min, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) at 50 L/min, and flush rate NRM. Two-dimension of the dispersion distance and the aerosol concentrations were measured at head, trunk, and foot around the mannequin for over 10 min. HFNC and flush-rate NRM yielded the longest dispersion distance and highest aerosol concentrations over the three sites of the mannequin than the other oxygenation devices and should use with caution. For flow rates of < 15 L/min, oxygenation devices with mask-like effects, such as NRM or NCO with NRM, decreased aerosol dispersion more effectively than NCO alone or a simple mask. In the upright position, the foot area exhibited the highest aerosol concentration regardless of the oxygenation device than the head-trunk areas of the mannequin. Healthcare workers should be alert even at the foot side of the patient while administering oxygenation therapy.

Oxygenation during the apnoeic phase preceding intubation in adults in prehospital, emergency department, intensive care and operating theatre environments

BACKGROUND

Apnoeic oxygenation is the delivery of oxygen during the apnoeic phase preceding intubation. It is used to prevent respiratory complications of endotracheal intubation that have the potential to lead to significant adverse events including dysrhythmia, haemodynamic decompensation, hypoxic brain injury and death. Oxygen delivered by nasal cannulae during the apnoeic phase of intubation (apnoeic oxygenation) may serve as a non-invasive adjunct to endotracheal intubation to decrease the incidence of hypoxaemia, morbidity and mortality.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the benefits and harms of apnoeic oxygenation before intubation in adults in the prehospital, emergency department, intensive care unit and operating theatre environments compared to no apnoeic oxygenation during intubation.

SEARCH METHODS

We used standard, extensive Cochrane search methods. The latest search date was 4 November 2022.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs that compared the use of any form of apnoeic oxygenation including high flow and low flow nasal cannulae versus no apnoeic oxygenation during intubation. We defined quasi-randomization as participant allocation to each arm by means that were not truly random, such as alternation, case record number or date of birth. We excluded comparative prospective cohort and comparative retrospective cohort studies, physiological modelling studies and case reports.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard Cochrane methods. Our primary outcomes were 1. hospital stay and 2. incidence of severe hypoxaemia. Our secondary outcomes were 3. incidence of hypoxaemia, 4. lowest recorded saturation of pulse oximetry (SpO2), 5. intensive care unit (ICU) stay, 6. first pass success rate, 7. adverse events and 8.

MORTALITY

We used GRADE to assess certainty of evidence.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 23 RCTs (2264 participants) in our analyses. Eight studies (729 participants) investigated the use of low-flow (15 L/minute or less), and 15 studies (1535 participants) investigated the use of high-flow (greater than 15 L/minute) oxygen. Settings were varied and included the emergency department (2 studies, 327 participants), ICU (7 studies, 913 participants) and operating theatre (14 studies, 1024 participants). We considered two studies to be at low risk of bias across all domains. None of the studies reported on hospital length of stay. In predominately critically ill people, there may be little to no difference in the incidence of severe hypoxaemia (SpO2 less than 80%) when using apnoeic oxygenation at any flow rate from the start of apnoea until successful intubation (risk ratio (RR) 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.66 to 1.11; P = 0.25, I² = 0%; 15 studies, 1802 participants; low-certainty evidence). There was insufficient evidence of any effect on the incidence of hypoxaemia (SpO2 less than 93%) (RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.23 to 1.46; P = 0.25, I² = 36%; 3 studies, 489 participants; low-certainty evidence). There may be an improvement in the lowest recorded oxygen saturation, with a mean increase of 1.9% (95% CI 0.75% to 3.05%; P < 0.001, I² = 86%; 15 studies, 1525 participants; low-certainty evidence). There may be a reduction in the duration of ICU stay with the use of apnoeic oxygenation during intubation (mean difference (MD) ‒1.13 days, 95% CI ‒1.51 to ‒0.74; P < 0.0001, I² = 46%; 5 studies, 815 participants; low-certainty evidence). There may be little to no difference in first pass success rate (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.08; P = 0.79, I² = 0%; 8 studies, 826 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). There may be little to no difference in incidence of adverse events including oral trauma, arrhythmia, aspiration, hypotension, pneumonia and cardiac arrest when apnoeic oxygenation is used. There was insufficient evidence about any effect on mortality (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.00; P = 0.06, I² = 0%; 6 studies, 1015 participants; low-certainty evidence).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There was some evidence that oxygenation during the apnoeic phase of intubation may improve the lowest recorded oxygen saturation. However, the differences in oxygen saturation were unlikely to be clinically significant. This did not translate into any measurable effect on the incidence of hypoxaemia or severe hypoxaemia in a group of predominately critically ill people. We were unable to assess the influence on hospital length of stay; however, there was a reduction in ICU stay in the apnoeic oxygenation group. The mechanism for this is unclear as there was little to no difference in first pass success or adverse event rates.

Effect of apneic oxygenation with intubation to reduce severe desaturation and adverse tracheal intubation-associated events in critically ill children

BACKGROUND

Determine if apneic oxygenation (AO) delivered via nasal cannula during the apneic phase of tracheal intubation (TI), reduces adverse TI-associated events (TIAEs) in children.

METHODS

AO was implemented across 14 pediatric intensive care units as a quality improvement intervention during 2016-2020. Implementation consisted of an intubation safety checklist, leadership endorsement, local champion, and data feedback to frontline clinicians. Standardized oxygen flow via nasal cannula for AO was as follows: 5 L/min for infants (< 1 year), 10 L/min for young children (1-7 years), and 15 L/min for older children (≥ 8 years). Outcomes were the occurrence of adverse TIAEs (primary) and hypoxemia (SpO₂ < 80%, secondary).

RESULTS

Of 6549 TIs during the study period, 2554 (39.0%) occurred during the pre-implementation phase and 3995 (61.0%) during post-implementation phase. AO utilization increased from 23 to 68%, p < 0.001. AO was utilized less often when intubating infants, those with a primary cardiac diagnosis or difficult airway features, and patient intubated due to respiratory or neurological failure or shock. Conversely, AO was used more often in TIs done for procedures and those assisted by video laryngoscopy. AO utilization was associated with a lower incidence of adverse TIAEs (AO 10.5% vs. without AO 13.5%, p < 0.001), aOR 0.75 (95% CI 0.58-0.98, p = 0.03) after adjusting for site clustering (primary analysis). However, after further adjusting for patient and provider characteristics (secondary analysis), AO utilization was not independently associated with the occurrence of adverse TIAEs: aOR 0.90, 95% CI 0.72-1.12, p = 0.33 and the occurrence of hypoxemia was not different: AO 14.2% versus without AO 15.2%, p = 0.43.

CONCLUSION

While AO use was associated with a lower occurrence of adverse TIAEs in children who required TI in the pediatric ICU after accounting for site-level clustering, this result may be explained by differences in patient, provider, and practice factors. Trial Registration Trial not registered.

A manikin study comparing the performance of traditional Macintosh laryngoscope, GlideScope®, Airtraq®, and video-optical intubation stylet in endotracheal intubation used by emergency doctors in simulated difficult airway intubation: A pilot study

Background:

The video-optical intubation stylet (VS) is a slim, rigid but flexible intubating device that aids physicians to intubate patients, particularly with difficult airways.

Objectives:

The objective of this study was to compare the performance of emergency department doctors in using different intubating devices for intubation in an airway manikin simulating different difficult airway scenarios.

Methods:

Thirty emergency department doctors were recruited in a pilot study. Their performance of using traditional Macintosh laryngoscope, GlideScope®, Airtraq® and C-MAC® Video Stylet were compared in three situations: normal, restricted cervical motion and limited oral aperture. The time for intubation, first attempt success rate, failure rate, dental injury and the subjective ease of different devices by the participants were compared.

Result:

The mean intubation time by VS in each scenario was significantly shorter compared with other devices (Normal: 19.77s vs 24.67–28.19s, p = 0.014; Cervical restriction: 20.85 vs 26.17–31.26s, p = 0.008; Limited oral aperture:19.03 vs 29.35, p = 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in failure rate or first attempt success rate. The incidence of dental injury was significantly lower with VS than other laryngoscopes (p = 0.001, p < 0.05 and p < 0.05 in normal, cervical restriction and limited oral aperture scenarios, respectively). Moreover, participants appreciated that VS was the easiest device to intubate in each scenario. (p < 0.05 in all scenarios)

Conclusion:

The performance of VS was comparable to or even better than the commonly used laryngoscopes in the emergency department in airway management. When adequate training is provided, VS can be a potentially good alternative for tracheal intubation in different situations.

Effectiveness of high-flow nasal cannula for tracheal intubation in the emergency department

Background

Tracheal intubation in the emergency department (ED) can cause serious complications. Available evidence on the use of a high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) during intubation in the ED is limited. This study evaluated the effect of oxygen therapy by HFNC on oxygen desaturation during tracheal intubation in the ED.

Methods

This was a single-center before-and-after study designed to compare two groups that received oxygen therapy during intubation: one received conventional oxygen, and the other received oxygen therapy using HFNC. We included non-trauma patients who required tracheal intubation in the ED. Linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between oxygen therapy using HFNC and the lowest peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂) during intubation in the conventional and HFNC groups.

Results

The study population included 87 patients (conventional group, n = 67; HFNC group, n = 20). The median lowest SpO₂ in the HFNC group was significantly higher than that in the conventional group (94% [84–99%] vs. 85% [76–91%], p = 0.006). The percentage of cases with oxygen desaturation to < 90% during the intubation procedure in the HFNC group was significantly lower than that in the conventional group (40% vs. 63.8%, p = 0.037). The use of HFNC was significantly associated with the lowest SpO₂, and the use of HFNC increased the lowest SpO₂ during intubation procedures by 3.658% (p = 0.048).

Conclusion

We found that the use of HFNC during tracheal intubation was potentially associated with a higher lowest SpO₂ during the procedure in comparison to conventional oxygen administration in non-trauma patients in the ED.

The efficacy of apneic oxygenation to prevent hypoxemia during rapid sequence intubation in trauma patients

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Rapid and effective airway management is priority for trauma patients. Trauma patients are often at an increased risk of experiencing hypoxia, and thus at increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Apneic oxygenation has been widely debated but has been reported to provide benefit in terms of increased peri-intubation oxygen saturation and decreased rates of desaturation. This review aims to evaluate the current literature on the efficacy of apneic oxygenation in the setting of rapid sequence intubation (RSI) in trauma patients.

RECENT FINDINGS

Two prospective studies published this year, demonstrated that apneic oxygenation was effective in reducing hypoxic events and hypoxic duration during RSI.

SUMMARY

The use of apneic oxygenation can play an important role in preventing hypoxic events in trauma patients undergoing RSI. The use of apneic oxygenation is cheap, and should be considered to reduce hypoxemic events. Additional studies are required to see the effects of apneic oxygenation on outcomes in trauma patients undergoing RSI, specifically desaturation and hypoxemic events and duration, and early onset mortality.

Comparing postinduction hypoxemia between ramped and supine position endotracheal intubations with apneic oxygenation in the emergency department

INTRODUCTION

Ramped position and apneic oxygenation are strategies to mitigate hypoxemia; however, the benefits of these strategies when utilized together remain unclear. Therefore, we compared first-attempt, postinduction hypoxemia between adult emergency department (ED) endotracheal intubations performed with apneic oxygenation in the ramped versus supine positions.

METHODS

We used the National Emergency Airway Registry (NEAR), a multicenter registry of data on ED intubations from 25 academic and community sites. We included first-attempt intubations with direct (DL) and video (VL) laryngoscopy in subjects ≥ 18 years old with nontrauma indications receiving apneic oxygenation. We examined patient characteristics (e.g., sex, obesity) and key intubation outcomes, including hypoxemia (primary outcome), first-pass success, and other adverse events (e.g., bradycardia). In addition, we examined unadjusted odds ratios (OR) and adjusted ORs (aOR) for key variables and stratified by laryngoscope type.

RESULTS

We included 210 ramped cases and 1,820 supine cases in the DL cohort and 202 ramped and 1,626 supine cases in the VL cohort. Rates of postinduction hypoxemia were similar between supine and ramped position in both the DL cohort (supine 6.5% and ramped 7.6%, aOR [95% CI] = 0.96 [0.55 to 1.67]) and the VL cohort (supine 10.1% and ramped 12.4%, aOR [95% CI] = 0.97 [0.60 to 1.56]). Other outcomes were also similar between groups.

CONCLUSION

Using this large national data set, we did not identify a difference in postinduction hypoxemia between ramped and supine positions in this cohort of ED intubations with apneic oxygenation.

Prehospital Pediatric Respiratory Distress and Airway Management Interventions: An NAEMSP Position Statement and Resource Document

Devices and techniques such as bag-valve-mask ventilation, endotracheal intubation, supraglottic airway devices, and noninvasive ventilation offer important tools for airway management in critically ill EMS patients. Over the past decade the tools, technology, and strategies used to assess and manage pediatric respiratory and airway emergencies have evolved, and evidence regarding their use continues to grow.NAEMSP recommends:Methods and tools used to properly size pediatric equipment for ages ranging from newborns to adolescents should be available to all EMS clinicians. All pediatric equipment should be routinely checked and clearly identifiable in EMS equipment supply bags and vehicles.EMS agencies should train and equip their clinicians with age-appropriate pulse oximetry and capnography equipment to aid in the assessment and management of pediatric respiratory distress and airway emergencies.EMS agencies should emphasize noninvasive positive pressure ventilation and effective bag-valve-mask ventilation strategies in children.Supraglottic airways can be used as primary or secondary airway management interventions for pediatric respiratory failure and cardiac arrest in the EMS setting.Pediatric endotracheal intubation has unclear benefit in the EMS setting. Advanced approaches to pediatric ETI including drug-assisted airway management, apneic oxygenation, and use of direct and video laryngoscopy require further research to more clearly define their risks and benefits prior to widespread implementation.If considering the use of pediatric endotracheal intubation, the EMS medical director must ensure the program provides pediatric-specific initial training and ongoing competency and quality management activities to ensure that EMS clinicians attain and maintain mastery of the intervention.Paramedic use of direct laryngoscopy paired with Magill forceps to facilitate foreign body removal in the pediatric patient should be maintained even when pediatric endotracheal intubation is not approved as a local clinical intervention.

Prehospital Drug Assisted Airway Management: An NAEMSP Position Statement and Resource Document

Airway management is a critical intervention for patients with airway compromise, respiratory failure, and cardiac arrest. Many EMS agencies use drug-assisted airway management (DAAM) - the administration of sedatives alone or in combination with neuromuscular blockers - to facilitate advanced airway placement in patients with airway compromise or impending respiratory failure who also have altered mental status, agitation, or intact protective airway reflexes. While DAAM provides several benefits including improving laryngoscopy and making insertion of endotracheal tubes and supraglottic airways easier, DAAM also carries important risks. NAEMSP recommends:DAAM is an appropriate tool for EMS clinicians in systems with clear guidelines, sufficient training, and close EMS physician oversight. DAAM should not be used in settings without adequate resources.EMS physicians should develop clinical guidelines informed by evidence and oversee the training and credentialing for safe and effective DAAM.DAAM programs should include best practices of airway management including patient selection, assessmenct and positioning, preoxygenation strategies including apneic oxygenation, monitoring and management of physiologic abnormalities, selection of medications, post-intubation analgesia and sedation, equipment selection, airway confirmation and monitoring, and rescue airway techniques.Post-DAAM airway placement must be confirmed and continually monitored with waveform capnography.EMS clinicians must have the necessary equipment and training to manage patients with failed DAAM, including bag mask ventilation, supraglottic airway devices and surgical airway approaches.Continuous quality improvement for DAAM must include assessment of individual and aggregate performance metrics. Where available for review, continuous physiologic recordings (vital signs, pulse oximetry, and capnography), audio and video recordings, and assessment of patient outcomes should be part of DAAM continuous quality improvement.

Optimizing Physiology During Prehospital Airway Management: An NAEMSP Position Statement and Resource Document

Airway management is a critical component of resuscitation but also carries the potential to disrupt perfusion, oxygenation, and ventilation as a consequence of airway insertion efforts, the use of medications, and the conversion to positive-pressure ventilation. NAEMSP recommends:Airway management should be approached as an organized system of care, incorporating principles of teamwork and operational awareness.EMS clinicians should prevent or correct hypoxemia and hypotension prior to advanced airway insertion attempts.Continuous physiological monitoring must be used during airway management to guide the timing of, limit the duration of, and inform decision making during advanced airway insertion attempts.Initial and ongoing confirmation of advanced airway placement must be performed using waveform capnography. Airway devices must be secured using a reliable method.Perfusion, oxygenation, and ventilation should be optimized before, during, and after advanced airway insertion.To mitigate aspiration after advanced airway insertion, EMS clinicians should consider placing a patient in a semi-upright position.When appropriate, patients undergoing advanced airway placement should receive suitable pharmacologic anxiolysis, amnesia, and analgesia. In select cases, the use of neuromuscular blocking agents may be appropriate.

Efficacy of HFNO during airway management of a COVID pneumonia patient with super morbid obesity undergoing emergency laparotomy

This case report describes the use of high flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) in a patient with morbid obesity (BMI = 90 kg/m²) who underwent emergency laparotomy under general anesthesia. This 54-year-old female patient with American Society of Anesthesia classification 4 E is known to have COVID pneumonia with Obstuctive Sleep Apnea. She was admitted in the ICU for 3 days and she was on Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) alternating with HFNO to keep her SpO₂ 91%–92%, on FiO₂ 60%, and respiratory rate (RR) 40–45/min. The plan for airway management was rapid sequence intubation with preoxygenation using the HFNO. We here report this case to show the usefulness of HFNO, which adds a new dimension in airway management of similar cases.

Apnoeic oxygenation during paediatric intubation: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

This review assesses the effect of apnoeic oxygenation during paediatric intubation on rates of hypoxaemia, successful intubation on the first attempt and other adverse events.

DATA SOURCES

The databases searched included PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE and The Cochrane Library. An electronic search for unpublished studies was also performed.

STUDY SELECTION

We screened studies that include children undergoing intubation, studies that evaluate the use of apnoeic oxygenation by any method or device with outcomes of hypoxaemia, intubation outcome and adverse events were eligible for inclusion.

DATA EXTRACTION

Screening, risk of bias, quality of evidence and data extraction was performed by two independent reviewers, with conflicts resolved by a third reviewer where consensus could not be reached.

DATA SYNTHESIS

From 362 screened studies, fourteen studies (N = 2442) met the eligibility criteria. Randomised controlled trials (N = 482) and studies performed in the operating theatre (N = 835) favoured the use of apnoeic oxygenation with a reduced incidence of hypoxaemia (RR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.24 to 0.47, p < 0.001, I ² = 0% and RR: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.11 to 0.68, p = 0.005, I ² = 68% respectively). Studies in the ED and PICU were of lower methodological quality, displaying heterogeneity in their results and were unsuitable for meta-analysis. Among the studies reporting first attempt intubation success, there were inconsistent effects reported and data were not suitable for meta-analysis.

CONCLUSION

There is a growing body of evidence to support the use of apnoeic oxygenation during the intubation of children. Further research is required to determine optimal flow rates and delivery technique. The use of humidified high-flow oxygen shows promise as an effective technique based on data in the operating theatre, however its efficacy has not been shown to be superior to low flow oxygen in either the elective anesthetic or emergency intubation situations Systematic Review Registration: This review was prospectively registered in the PROSPERO international register of systematic reviews (Reference: CRD42020170884, registered April 28, 2020).

Application of high-flow nasal oxygenation as a rescue therapy in difficult videolaryngoscopic intubation

In difficult airway situations, the next step of the airway management method is selected according to the prior presence of difficulties in mask ventilation and endotracheal intubation. It is important for the practitioner to be calm, quick in judgment, and take action in cases of difficult intubation. Recently, high-flow nasal oxygenation has been rapidly introduced into the anesthesiology field. This technique could extend the safe apnea time to desaturation. Especially, it maintains adequate oxygenation even in apnea and allows time for intubation or alternative airway management. We report two cases in which high-flow nasal oxygenation was implemented in the middle of the induction process after quick judgment by clinicians. High-flow nasal oxygenation was successfully used to assist in prolonging the safe apnea time during delicate airway securing attempts.

Resuscitation of the Critically Ill Older Adult

In 30 years, adults 65 and older will represent 20% of the US population, with increased medical comorbidities leading to higher rates of critical illness and mortality. Despite significant acute illness, presenting symptoms and vital sign abnormalities may be subtle. Resuscitative guidelines are a helpful starting point but appropriate diagnostics, bedside ultrasound, and frequent reassessments are needed to avoid procrustean care that may worsen outcomes. Baseline functional status is as important as underlying comorbid conditions when prognosticating, and the patient's personal wishes should be sought early and throughout care with clear communication regarding prospects for immediate survival and overall recovery.

Sustained Improvement in Tracheal Intubation Safety Across a 15-Center Quality-Improvement Collaborative: An Interventional Study From the National Emergency Airway Registry for Children Investigators

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effect of a tracheal intubation safety bundle on adverse tracheal intubation-associated events across 15 PICUs.

DESIGN

Multicenter time-series study.

SETTING

PICUs in the United States.

PATIENTS

All patients received tracheal intubations in ICUs.

INTERVENTIONS

We implemented a tracheal intubation safety bundle as a quality-improvement intervention that includes: 1) quarterly site benchmark performance report and 2) airway safety checklists (preprocedure risk factor, approach, and role planning, preprocedure bedside "time-out," and immediate postprocedure debriefing). We define each quality-improvement phase as baseline (-24 to -12 mo before checklist implementation), benchmark performance reporting only (-12 to 0 mo before checklist implementation), implementation (checklist implementation start to time achieving > 80% bundle adherence), early bundle adherence (0-12 mo), and sustained (late) bundle adherence (12-24 mo). Bundle adherence was defined a priori as greater than 80% of checklist use for tracheal intubations for 3 consecutive months.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The primary outcome was the adverse tracheal intubation-associated event, and secondary outcomes included severe tracheal intubation-associated events, multiple tracheal intubation attempts, and hypoxemia less than 80%.From January 2013 to December 2015, out of 19 participating PICUs, 15 ICUs (79%) achieved bundle adherence. Among the 15 ICUs, the adverse tracheal intubation-associated event rates were baseline phase: 217/1,241 (17.5%), benchmark reporting only phase: 257/1,750 (14.7%), early 0-12 month complete bundle compliance phase: 247/1,591 (15.5%), and late 12-24 month complete bundle compliance phase: 137/1,002 (13.7%). After adjusting for patient characteristics and clustering by site, the adverse tracheal intubation-associated event rate significantly decreased compared with baseline: benchmark: odds ratio, 0.83 (0.72-0.97; p = 0.016); early bundle: odds ratio, 0.80 (0.63-1.02; p = 0.074); and late bundle odds ratio, 0.63 (0.47-0.83; p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Effective implementation of a quality-improvement bundle was associated with a decrease in the adverse tracheal intubation-associated event that was sustained for 24 months.

Intubation practices for children in emergency departments and intensive care units across Australia and New Zealand: A survey of medical staff

OBJECTIVE

Intubation of children in the emergency setting is a high-risk, low incidence event. Standardisation of clinical practice has been hampered by a lack of high-quality evidence to support one technique over another. The aim of the present study is to determine clinician preference in intubation practice of children in EDs and ICUs in Australia and New Zealand to provide baseline information to allow future targeted research focused on improving the safety and efficacy of paediatric emergency airway management.

METHODS

The present study was a voluntary questionnaire undertaken by medical staff at registrar level or above in EDs and ICUs associated with the Paediatric Research in Emergency Departments International Collaborative (PREDICT) and Australia and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Paediatric Study Group (ANZICS PSG) research networks. Respondents reported on their individual intubation practices, with a focus on pre-oxygenation and apnoeic oxygenation techniques, and the use of video laryngoscopy.

RESULTS

A total of 502 clinicians were invited to complete the survey between May and October 2018 with 336 (66.9%) responded. There was marked variation in practice between ED clinicians and ICU clinicians in the techniques used for pre-oxygenation, the frequency of use of apnoeic oxygenation and the reported use of video laryngoscopy.

CONCLUSIONS

Within Australia and New Zealand there is considerable variation in paediatric emergency airway clinical practice, in particular with respect to pre-oxygenation, apnoeic oxygenation and use of video laryngoscopy. Definitive clinical trials are required to best inform clinical practice in this area.

Oxygen therapy in acute resuscitation

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Avoidance and treatment of hypoxaemia is a cornerstone of acute resuscitation and yet the optimal approach to oxygen therapy in the acute care setting is uncertain. The aim of this review is to appraise recent evidence relating to the provision of supplemental oxygen to adult patients with acute illnesses with a focus on the resuscitation phase.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent findings generally support the notion that exposure to hyperoxaemia is associated with adverse outcomes in acutely ill adults with a range of diseases and raise the possibility that liberal provision of oxygen may cause harm. Several ongoing multicentre randomized trials aim to assess the effects of different oxygen therapy regimens on patient outcomes to provide a foundation for evidence-based recommendations regarding the use of supplemental oxygen in Intensive Care Unit patients.

SUMMARY

At present, evidence is lacking to support routine liberal oxygen administration in acutely ill patients and, in most circumstances, a reasonable approach is to titrate supplemental oxygen to achieve an arterial oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry (SpO2) of 92-96% with the aim of avoiding both hypoxaemia and hyperoxaemia.

Apneic Oxygenation for Pediatric Endotracheal Intubation: A Narrative Review

Apneic oxygenation (ApOx) has shown to be effective in adult populations in a variety of settings, including prehospital, emergency departments, intensive care units, and elective surgery. This review aims to assess the available literature for ApOx in the pediatric population to determine its effects on hypoxemia, safe apnea times, and flow rates employed safely.

High-flow nasal oxygenation for anesthetic management

High-flow nasal oxygenation (HFNO) is a promising new technique for anesthesiologists. The use of HFNO during the induction of anesthesia and during upper airway surgeries has been initiated, and its applications have been rapidly growing ever since. The advantages of this technique include its easy set-up, high tolerability, and its abilities to produce positive airway pressure and a high fraction of inspired oxygen and to influence the clearance of carbon dioxide to some extent. HFNO, via a nasal cannula, can provide oxygen both to patients who can breathe spontaneously and to those who are apneic; further, this technique does not interfere with bag-mask ventilation, attempts at laryngoscopy for tracheal intubation, and surgical procedures conducted in the airway. In this review, we describe the techniques associated with HFNO and the advantages and disadvantages of HFNO based on the current state of knowledge.

Advancing emergency airway management practice and research

Emergency airway management is one of the vital resuscitative procedures undertaken in the emergency department (ED). Despite its clinical and research importance in the care of critically ill and injured patients, earlier studies have documented suboptimal intubation performance and high adverse event rates with a wide variation across the EDs. The optimal emergency airway management strategies remain to be established and their dissemination to the entire nation is a challenging task. This article reviews the current published works on emergency airway management with a focus on the use of airway management algorithms as well as the importance of first‐pass success and systematic use of rescue intubation strategies. Additionally, the review summarizes the current evidence for each of the important airway management processes, such as assessment of the difficult airway, preparation (e.g., positioning and oxygenation), intubation methods (e.g., rapid sequence intubation), medications (e.g., premedications, sedatives, and neuromuscular blockades), devices (e.g., direct and video laryngoscopy and supraglottic devises), and rescue intubation strategies (e.g., airway adjuncts and rescue intubators), as well as the airway management in distinct patient populations (i.e., trauma, cardiac arrest, and pediatric patients). Well‐designed, rigorously conducted, multicenter studies that prospectively and comprehensively characterize emergency airway management should provide clinicians with important opportunities for improving the quality and safety of airway management practice. Such data will not only advance research into the determination of optimal airway management strategies but also facilitate the development of clinical guidelines, which will, in turn, improve the outcomes of critically ill and injured patients in the ED.

Transnasal Humidified Rapid Insufflation Ventilatory Exchange in children requiring emergent intubation (Kids THRIVE): a protocol for a randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Emergency intubation of children with abnormal respiratory or cardiac physiology is a high-risk procedure and associated with a high incidence of adverse events including hypoxemia. Successful emergency intubation is dependent on inter-related patient and operator factors. Preoxygenation has been used to maximise oxygen reserves in the patient and to prolong the safe apnoeic time during the intubation phase. Transnasal Humidified Rapid Insufflation Ventilatory Exchange (THRIVE) prolongs the safe apnoeic window for a safe intubation during elective intubation. We designed a clinical trial to test the hypothesis that THRIVE reduces the frequency of adverse and hypoxemic events during emergency intubation in children and to test the hypothesis that this treatment is cost-effective compared with standard care.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The Kids THRIVE trial is a multicentre randomised controlled trial performed in participating emergency departments and paediatric intensive care units. 960 infants and children aged 0-16 years requiring emergency intubation for all reasons will be enrolled and allocated to THRIVE or control in a 1:1 allocation with stratification by site, age (<1, 1-7 and >7 years) and operator (junior and senior). Children allocated to THRIVE will receive weight appropriate transnasal flow rates with 100% oxygen, whereas children in the control arm will not receive any transnasal oxygen insufflation. The primary outcomes are defined as follows: (1) hypoxemic event during the intubation phase defined as SpO₂ <90% (patient-dependent variable) and (2) first intubation attempt success without hypoxemia (operator-dependent variable). Analyses will be conducted on an intention-to-treat basis.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethics approval for the protocol and consent process has been obtained (HREC/16/QRCH/81). The trial has been actively recruiting since May 2017. The study findings will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ACTRN12617000147381.

Does apneic oxygenation prevent desaturation during emergency airway management? A systematic review and meta-analysis

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: L'oxygénation apnéique (OA) par lunettes nasales est une méthode de prévention de la désaturation en oxygène au cours des intubations en urgence. L'objectif de cette revue systématique était de déterminer l'efficacité de l'OA sur la prévention de la désaturation en oxygène au cours des intubations en urgence.

SOURCE

Des recherches systématiques ont été effectuées dans trois bases de données électroniques (MEDLINE, EMBASE et CINAHL) pour identifier les études portant sur la prévention de la désaturation en oxygène au moyen de l'OA par lunettes nasales. Notre critère d'évaluation principal était l'incidence des désaturations telle que définie dans chaque étude; nous avons ensuite évalué l'incidence de la désaturation sévère en oxygène (SpO₂ < 80%). Une méta-analyse a été effectuée sur les études présentant des données sur la désaturation en oxygène telle que définie par chaque étude et chez des patients ayant une désaturation sévère pour générer une estimation groupée de l'effet.

CONSTATATIONS PRINCIPALES

Au total, 544 études ont été examinées, parmi lesquelles dix (2 322 patients) satisfaisaient tous les critères d'éligibilité. Comparativement à l'absence d'OA, l'utilisation de cette méthode a été associée à une réduction de la désaturation en oxygène (risque relatif [RR] : 0,76; intervalle de confiance à 95% [IC] : 0,61 à 0,95; P = 0,02), mais n'a pas été associée à une réduction de la désaturation sévère (RR, 0,65; IC à 95% : 0,38 à 1,11; P = 0,12). Néanmoins, il y avait une hétérogénéité significative des facteurs liés aux patients, des interventions et des définitions de la désaturation en oxygène entre les études.

CONCLUSION

Nos constatations suggèrent que l'OA par lunettes nasales est associée à un moindre risque de désaturation en oxygène au cours des intubations en urgence. Cependant, compte de tenu de l'hétérogénéité des études, d'autres essais de grande qualité sont nécessaires pour déterminer quels patients pourraient bénéficier de l'OA au cours des intubations d'urgence.

Implementation of a Clinical Bundle to Reduce Out-of-Hospital Peri-intubation Hypoxia

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Peri-intubation hypoxia is an important adverse event of out-of-hospital rapid sequence intubation. The aim of this project is to determine whether a clinical bundle encompassing positioning, apneic oxygenation, delayed sequence intubation, and goal-directed preoxygenation is associated with decreased peri-intubation hypoxia compared with standard out-of-hospital rapid sequence intubation.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, before-after study using data from a suburban emergency medical services (EMS) system in central Texas. The study population included all adults undergoing out-of-hospital intubation efforts, excluding those in cardiac arrest. The before-period intervention was standard rapid sequence intubation using apneic oxygenation at flush flow, ketamine, and a paralytic. The after-period intervention was a care bundle including patient positioning (elevated head, sniffing position), apneic oxygenation, delayed sequence intubation (administration of ketamine to facilitate patient relaxation and preoxygenation with a delayed administration of paralytics), and goal-directed preoxygenation. The primary outcome was the rate of peri-intubation hypoxia, defined as the percentage of patients with a saturation less than 90% during the intubation attempt.

RESULTS

The before group (October 2, 2013, to December 13, 2015) included 104 patients and the after group (August 8, 2015, to July 14, 2017) included 87 patients. The 2 groups were similar in regard to sex, age, weight, ethnicity, rate of trauma, initial oxygen saturation, rates of initial hypoxia, peri-intubation peak SpO₂, preintubation pulse rate and systolic blood pressure, peri-intubation cardiac arrest, and first-pass and overall success rates. Compared with the before group, the after group experienced less peri-intubation hypoxia (44.2% versus 3.5%; difference -40.7% [95% confidence interval -49.5% to -32.1%]) and higher peri-intubation nadir SpO₂ values (100% versus 93%; difference 5% [95% confidence interval 2% to 10%]).

CONCLUSION

In this single EMS system, a care bundle encompassing patient positioning, apneic oxygenation, delayed sequence intubation, and goal-directed preoxygenation was associated with lower rates of peri-intubation hypoxia than standard out-of-hospital rapid sequence intubation.

Nasal Cannula Apneic Oxygenation Prevents Desaturation During Endotracheal Intubation: An Integrative Literature Review

Patients requiring emergency airway management may be at greater risk of acute hypoxemic events because of underlying lung pathology, high metabolic demands, insufficient respiratory drive, obesity, or the inability to protect their airway against aspiration. Emergency tracheal intubation is often required before complete information needed to assess the risk of procedural hypoxia is acquired (i.e., arterial blood gas level, hemoglobin value, or chest radiograph). During pre-oxygenation, administering high-flow nasal oxygen in addition to a non-rebreather face mask can significantly boost the effective inspired oxygen. Similarly, with the apnea created by rapid sequence intubation (RSI) procedures, the same high-flow nasal cannula can help maintain or increase oxygen saturation during efforts to secure the tube (oral intubation). Thus, the use of nasal oxygen during pre-oxygenation and continued during apnea can prevent hypoxia before and during intubation, extending safe apnea time, and improve first-pass success attempts. We conducted a literature review of nasal-cannula apneic oxygenation during intubation, focusing on two components: oxygen saturation during intubation, and oxygen desaturation time. We performed an electronic literature search from 1980 to November 2017, using PubMed, Elsevier, ScienceDirect, and EBSCO. We identified 14 studies that pointed toward the benefits of using nasal cannula during emergency intubation.

Effectiveness of transnasal humidified rapid-insufflation ventilatory exchange versus traditional preoxygenation followed by apnoeic oxygenation in delaying desaturation during apnoea: A preliminary study

Background and Aims:

Transnasal humidified rapid-insufflation ventilatory exchange (THRIVE) during apnoea has shown to delay desaturation. The primary objective was to compare time to desaturate to <90% during apnoea with THRIVE versus traditional preoxygenation followed by apnoeic oxygenation.

Methods:

This prospective, randomised, single-blinded study was conducted in 10 adult patients presenting for direct laryngoscopy under general anaesthesia without endotracheal intubation. Group P patients were preoxygenated with 100% oxygen, and in Group H, high-flow humidified oxygen was delivered using nasal cannula for 3 min. After induction and neuromuscular blockade, time to desaturate to 90%, while receiving apnoeic oxygenation, was noted. Chi-square test and Mann–Whitney tests were used.

Results:

Group H had a significantly longer apnoea time as compared to Group P (796.00 ± 43.36 vs. 444.00 ± 52.56 s). All patients in Group H continued to have nearly 100% saturation even at 12 min of apnoea. However, in Group P, 80% of patients desaturated to <90% after 6 min of apnoea. Baseline blood gases, that following preoxygenation and at 3 min of apnoea time were comparable in both groups. At 6 min, Group H had a significantly higher PaO₂ (295.20 ± 122.26 vs. 135.00 ± 116.78) and PaCO₂ (69.46 ± 7.15 vs. 59.00 ± 4.64). Group H continued to have a PaO₂ of >200 mmHg even at 12 min of apnoea with a significant rise in PaCO₂ along with fall in pH after 6 min.

Conclusion:

During apnoeic periods time to desaturate to <90% was significantly prolonged with use of THRIVE.

Apnoeic oxygenation during intubation in the intensive care unit: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Hypoxaemia increases the risk of cardiac arrest and mortality during intubation. The reduced physiological reserve and reduced efficacy of pre-oxygenation in intensive care patients makes their intubation particularly dangerous. Apnoeic oxygenation is a promising means of preventing hypoxaemia in this setting. We sought to ascertain whether apnoeic oxygenation reduces the incidence of hypoxaemia when used during endotracheal intubation in the intensive care unit (ICU). A systematic review of five databases for all relevant studies published up to November 2016 was performed. Eligible studies investigated apnoeic oxygenation during intubation in the ICU, irrespective of design. All studies were assessed for risk of bias and level of evidence. A meta-analysis was performed on all data using Revman 5.3. Six studies including 518 patients were retrieved. The study found level 1 evidence of a significant reduction in the incidence of critical desaturation (RR = 0.69, CI = 0.48-1.00, p = 0.05) and a significant increase in the lowest SpO2 value by 2.83% (CI = 2.28-3.38, p < 0.00001). There was a significant reduction in ICU stay (WMD = -2.89, 95%CI = -3.25 to -2.51, p < 0.00001). There was no significant difference between groups regarding mortality (RR = 0.77, 95%CI = 0.59-1.03, p = 0.08), first pass intubation success (RR = 1.17, 95%CI = 0.67 to 2.03, p = 0.58), arrhythmia during intubation (RR = 0.58, 95%CI = 0.08 to 4.29, p = 0.60), cardiac arrest during intubation (RR = 0.33, 95%CI = 0.01 to 7.84, p = 0.49) and duration of ventilation (WMD = -1.97, 95%CI = -5.89 to 1.95, p = 0.32). Apnoeic oxygenation reduces patient hypoxaemia during intubation performed in the ICU. This meta-analysis found evidence that apnoeic oxygenation may significantly reduce the incidence of critical desaturation and significantly raises the minimum recorded SpO2 in this setting. We recommend apnoeic oxygenation be incorporated into ICU intubation protocol.