Thursday, May 23, 2024

Rapid Sequence Intubation

 

RAPID SEQUENCE INTUBATION

“Rapid Sequence Intubation  (RSI) is the virtually simultaneous administration, after preoxygenation, of a potent sedative agent and a rapidly acting neuromuscular blocking agent to facilitate rapid tracheal intubation without interposed mechanical ventilation.”

                                                                                                                                                            Ron Walls, MD

                                                                                                          Manual of Emergency Airway Management

 

·         RSI is the cornerstone of emergency airway management.

·         RSI is predicated on the fact that the patient has not fasted prior to intubation, and is therefore at risk for aspiration of gastric contents.

·         The purpose of RSI is to render the patient unconscious and paralyzed and then to intubate the trachea without interposed assisted ventilation.

·         RSI has a very high success rate; approximately 99% in most cases.

 

INDICATIONS FOR INTUBATION

1.       Failure of airway maintenance or protection

2.       Failure of ventilation or oxygenation

3.        Impending airway obstruction

 

RSI  THE SEVEN P’s

 

1.       Preparation                                zero minus 10 mins

2.       Preoxygenation                         zero minus 5 mins

3.       Pretreatment                             zero minus 3 mins

4.       Paralysis with induction           zero

5.       Protection and positioning      zero plus 20-30 secs

6.       Placement with proof               zero plus 45 seconds

7.       Postintubation management   zero pluz 1 minute

 

 

1.       PREPARATION

 

Assessment of potential airway management difficulties

LEMON

·         Look externally

·         Evaluate 3-3-2

·         Mallampati score

·         Obstruction

·         Neck mobility

 

 

Physical signs

Less difficult airway

More difficult airway

Look externally

  • Normal face and neck
  • No face or neck pathology
  • Abnormal face shape
  • Sunken cheeks
  • Edentulous
  • "Buck teeth"
  • Receding mandible
  • "Bull-neck"
  • Narrow mouth
  • Obesity
  • Face or neck pathology

Evaluate the 3-3-2 rule

  • Mouth opening > 3F
  • Hyoid-chin distance > 3F
  • Thyroid cartilage-mouth floor distance > 2F
  • Mouth opening < 3F
  • Hyoid-chin distance < 3F
  • Thyroid cartilage-mouth floor distance < 2F

Mallampati

  • Class I and II (can see the soft palate, uvula, fauces +/- faucial pillars)
  • Class III and IV (can only see the hard palate +/- soft palate +/- base of uvula)

Obstruction

  • None
  • Pathology within or surrounding the upper airway (e.g. peri-tonsillar abscess, epiglottis, retro-pharyngeal abscess)

Neck mobility

  • Can flex and extend the neck normally
  • Limited ROM of the neck

                    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PREPARATION

·         At least one reliable IV

·         Monitor, pulse oximeter

·         Suction

·         Drugs ready to administer

·         Functioning laryngoscope with a selection of blades

·         ET tube with stylet, balloon cuff tested

·         Assistants

 

2.       PREOXYGENATION

·         Essential to avoid bagging, which increases risk of aspiration in a non-fasted patient

·         Creates oxygen reservoir in blood to allow for a brief period of apnea

·         Pulse oximetry

3.       PRETREATMENT

LOAD

·         Lidocaine: for reactive airway disease or increased ICP. Blunts reflex rise in ICP and reflex bronchospasm.

·         Opioid ( Fentanyl): used when sympathetic responses should be blunted ( Increased ICP, aortic dissection, intracranial hemorrhage, cardiac ischemia, etc.) Attenuates reflex tachycardia and HTN.

·         Atropine : For Children 8 yrs or less. Children and infants tend to have a more pronounced vagal response to laryngoscopy, which can result in bradycardia. For this reason, the current recommendation for children younger than 1 year undergoing direct laryngoscopy is administration of atropine 0.02 mg/kg, independent of succinylcholine use.

·         Defasciculation: Before succinylcholine if patient has an increased ICP, penetrating globe injury. Rocuronium 0.06 mg/kg or Vecuronium 0.01 mg/kg  3 mins before administration of succinylcholine to prevent fasciculations.

Drug Name Generic (Trade)

Adult Dose

Onset of Action

Duration of Action

Advantages

Cautions

Fentanyl

1-2 mcg/kg slow IV push (over 1-2 min)

Immediate

0.5-1 h

Primary pretreatment drug to provide sedation and analgesia; decreases hypertensive response to intubation

Hypotension; chest wall rigidity at high doses (ie, >15 mcg/kg)

Lidocaine (Xylocaine)

1.5 mg/kg IV push 3 mins before induction

1-2 min

10-20 min

Useful in patients with asthma/COPD to decrease hypertensive response

Hypotension

Atropine

0.02 mg/kg (usually about 0.4 mg) IV push
Typically administered for pediatric patients ≤8y

2-4 min

Up to 4 h

Antisialagogue

Tachycardia

Vecuronium (Norcuron)

Defasciculating dose: 0.01 mg/kg IV push (typically about 1 mg, or 10% of intubation dose)

 

 

Decreases fasciculation and potassium release from cells; particularly useful if intend to use succinylcholine

Avoid higher doses that may produce paralytic effect

Rocuronium (Zemuron)

Defasciculating dose: 0.06 mg/kg IV push (typically about 10% of intubation dose)

 

 

Decreases fasciculation and potassium release from cells; particularly useful if intend to use succinylcholine

Avoid higher doses that may produce paralytic effect

 

The benefits of some pretreatment drugs (e.g. lidocaine) are contested.

Pretreatment medications are therefore sometimes omitted during RSI.

4.       PARALYSIS WITH INDUCTION

A rapidly acting induction agent is given to induce unconsciousness, immediately followed by a neuromuscular blocking agent (NMBA).

Drug Name Generic (Trade)

Adult Dose

Onset of Action

Duration of Action

Advantages

Cautions

Midazolam (Versed)

0.1  mg/kg IV

2-3 min

up to several hours

Amnesia prior to

procedure. Impairs memory in 90% of patients

delayed time to induction, predilection for hypotension at induction doses, and prolonged duration of action.

Etomidate (Amidate)

0.3 mg/kg IV push (normal adult dose about 20 mg)

0.5-1 min

3-5 min

Does not alter hemodynamics or intracranial pressure (ICP); no histamine release; generally does not induce apnea; useful for patients with multiple trauma and hypotension (does not alter systemic BP)

Commonly causes myoclonus;

pain upon injection; adrenal suppression (typically no clinical significance);

does not suppress sympathetic response to laryngoscopy; nausea;

vomiting;


lowers seizure threshold;

does not provide analgesia

Propofol (Diprivan)

2-3 mg/kg IV push

Decrease dose if patient unstable

< 1 min

3-10 min

Provides rapid onset and brief duration; cerebroprotective (decreases ICP); amnestic properties; extremely potent

Causes cardiovascular depression and hypotension; respiratory depression is dose-dependent

Succinylcholine (Anectine)

0.3-2 mg/kg IV push (average dose 1.5 mg/kg)

1 min

4-6 min

Depolarizing NMB; drug of choice for emergency pediatric intubation; rapid onset (< 60 s) and brief duration of action; enhances nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking effects

Increased serum potassium; muscle fasciculation; malignant hyperthermia; cardiac arrest in children with muscular dystrophy; dysrhythmia with multiple doses

Rocuronium (Zemuron)

0.6-1 mg/kg IV push

< 1 min

30-60 min

Nondepolarizing NMBA; minimal effect on hemodynamics; low incidence of histamine release (0.8%)

Duration prolonged with hepatic impairment

 

 

5.       PROTECTION AND POSITION

·         Apnea occurs within 30 seconds of administration of induction and paralyzing agents.

·         Fasciculations will occur if succinylcholine has been used .

·         Apply Sellick’s maneuver, position patient for optimal laryngoscopy.

 

6.       PLACEMENT WITH PROOF

·         Assess mandible for flaccidity,  perform intubation, confirm placement.

  • Confirm tube placement.
    • Observe color change on a qualitative end-tidal carbon dioxide device.
    • Use the 5-point auscultation method: Listen over each lateral lung field, the left axilla, and the left supraclavicular region for good breath sounds. No air movement should occur over the stomach.

7.       POSTINTUBATION MANAGEMENT

  • Secure the ET tube into place.
  • Initiate mechanical ventilation.
  • Monitor vital signs; hypotension is common post-intubation.
  • Obtain a chest radiograph.
    • Assess pulmonary status.
    • Note this modality does not confirm placement; rather, it assesses the height above the carina.
    • Ensure that mainstem intubation has not occurred.
  • Administer appropriate analgesic and sedative agents for patient comfort, to decrease O2 demand, and to decrease ICP. Benzos, propofol, opioids, etc.

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