How Children Are Intubated in Emergency Departments, 2002–2012

Researchers analyzed data from the National Emergency Airway Registry (NEAR) for 1053 pediatric intubations (median age, 7 years) performed in 10 emergency departments from 2002 to 2012. They report first-pass success rates in relation to the indication for intubation and the use of paralytics, induction agents, and video laryngoscopy.

Trauma was the indication for half of intubations; seizure, overdose, and cardiac arrest were among the other indications. Trainees were the first to attempt intubation in 83% of cases. There were no surgical airways; first-pass success was recorded as 83% (ultimate success was 99.5%). In multivariable analysis, first-pass success was less likely in girls than in boys, in infants than in older children, and wi…