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Rapid sequence intubation (RSI) has been promoted in emergency departments as being safer and more effective than conventional intubation for achieving definitive control of the airway. In a retrospective study, researchers compared in-hospital mortality rates between patients who underwent prehospital intubation either by an RSI technique or by an oral intubation technique without medication.
Review of the Oregon Trauma Registry from 2000 to 2005 identified 877 patients aged 15 years or older who required prehospital intubation and were transported to a level I trauma center. Of these patients, 381 could tolerate laryngoscopy (i.e., did not need medications for intubation because their injuries were so severe), and 496 had less-severe injur…