Flexible Fiberoptic Intubation Is Rarely Used in Adult ED Patients

However, it remains an essential skill for emergency physicians, especially those without immediate availability of anesthesia backup.

For difficult intubations, especially in patients with oral airway obstruction (e.g., from angioedema), flexible fiberoptic intubation (FFI) may be the only viable option for securing the patient's airway in the emergency department (ED). However, the frequency and success rate of FFI is unknown. These authors reviewed the National Emergency Airway Registry to describe the characteristics of FFI for patients aged ≥15 years treated at 13 U.S. EDs over a 10-year period.

Of 17,910 intubations reviewed, 1.1% (204) involved FFI (180 as the primary method and 24 as the rescue method). FFI was most commonly used for airway obstruction (36% of cases). When FFI was the primary method, first-attempt intubation success was 51%, and overall success was …

Reviewing Author

Ali S. Raja, MD, MBA, MPH

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine (Board Member); American College of Healthcare Executives – Massachusetts (Board Member)

Ali S. Raja, MD, MBA, MPH

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine (Board Member); American College of Healthcare Executives – Massachusetts (Board Member)

Flexible Fiberoptic Intubation Is Rarely Used in Adult ED Patients

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Reviewing Author