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Peri-intubation hypotension and even cardiac arrest are concerns in patients undergoing emergency resuscitation. To determine the incidence of peri-intubation cardiac arrest and factors associated with it, researchers retrospectively analyzed records for 410 adult patients who underwent rapid sequence intubation (RSI) at a single urban emergency department during 2007.
Peri-intubation cardiac arrest (defined as occurring within 60 minutes after initiation of airway management) was documented on the standardized data collection tool in 17 patients (4.2%), at a median 6 minutes after intubation. Nearly two thirds of cardiac arrests occurred within 10 minutes. Pulseless electrical activity was the initial arrest rhythm in most cases. Arrest was…