Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Preoxygenation reduces desaturation events and improves intubation success.

OBJECTIVE: Oxygen desaturation occurs frequently in the course of prehospital rapid sequence intubation (RSI) and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Preoxygenation with positive pressure ventilation by bag valve mask may delay the onset of desaturation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate implementation of a targeted preoxygenation protocol including the use of positive pressure ventilation on desaturation events and intubation success during air medical RSI.

METHODS: The RSI air medical program airway training model was modified to target an oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry value of ≥ 93% before initial laryngoscopy. A review of oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry tracings was performed for 2 years before and 2 years after implementation of this protocol. The incidence of desaturation events and overall intubation success rates were compared before and after the intervention.

RESULTS: One hundred fifty-five RSI procedures were evaluated over the study period. Desaturation events decreased from 58% in the 2 years before algorithm changes to 28% in the first year and 14% in the second year after implementation (P < .01). Intubation success rates increased from 89% to 98% (P < .01). There were no self-reports of aspiration events during the study period.

CONCLUSION: A preoxygenation protocol dramatically reduced the incidence of desaturation events and increased intubation success without an increase in the number of reported aspiration events.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app