Use of Paralytic Agents Facilitates Intubation Outside the Operating Room

For emergent intubations outside the emergency department and operating room settings, use of neuromuscular blocking agents reduced prevalence of hypoxemia and complications.

Neuromuscular blockade (NMB) is used routinely in the emergency department, but not in other settings outside the operating room. In a prospective, observational study, researchers assessed 454 patients not in cardiac arrest who were intubated emergently outside the operating room at two university hospitals. Overall, 287 patients received NMB (rocuronium in 70% and succinylcholine in 30%).

An advanced airway team consisting of supervising critical care specialists, anesthesia residents, and respiratory therapists performed the intubations with propofol (70% of NMB recipients and 58% of nonrecipients) or etomidate (23% and 29%). Opioids or midazolam were administered to 18% and 7% of NMB recipients and 8% and 11% of nonrecipients, respective…

Reviewing Author

Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP

Disclosures

Editorial boardsKoenig & Schultz's Disaster Medicine: Comprehensive Principles and Practices

Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP

Disclosures

Editorial boardsKoenig & Schultz's Disaster Medicine: Comprehensive Principles and Practices