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Rapid sequence intubation
From WikEM
See critical care quick reference for medication dosages by age and weight.
Contents
Background
Rapid sequence intubation (RSI) is an airway management technique that produces immediate anesthesia via an induction agent as well as rapid paralysis via a neuromuscular blocking agent.
Premedication
Atropine
There is no evidence to support the routine use of atropine as a premedication to prevent bradycardia in emergency pediatric intubations
Dosing:
- 0.02mg/kg, minimum dose 0.1mg[1]
- May prevent bradycardia
Relative indications:
- Intubation in child < 1 yr old
- Prior to a second dose of succinylcholine
Lidocaine
- 1.5mg/kg
- May lower ICP, but need 5-10 minutes prior to RSI
Fentanyl
- 3 mcg/kg
- Blunts sympathetic response to intubation (pretreat if concern for increased ICP/BP, i.e. ICH, aortic dissection)
- Should be the last agent given
Induction
Etomidate
Dosing:
- 0.2-0.4mg/kg
- Onset - 1 min
- Duration - 30-60 min
Special Considerations:
- There is concern for adrenal suppression exists regarding etomidate dosing although clinically significant outcomes from transient depression has not been demonstrated. Effects may be greater for pediatric patients[2][3][4]
Versed
- Dose: 0.2-0.3mg/kg
- Onset - 1 to 2 min
- Duration - 30-60 min
Propofol
- Dose: 1-3mg/kg
- Duration - 10-15 min
Ketamine
- Dose: 1-2mg/kg IV or 3-4mg/kg IM
- Duration - 30 min
Paralytics
Succinylcholine
Dosing:
- 1.5mg/kg IV (>10 y/o)
- 2.0mg/kg IV (<10 y/o)
- 4mg/kg IM
- Onset: IV- 45s, IM - 2-3 min
- Duration: IV - 4-6min, IM - 10-30min
Rocuronium
Dosing:
- 1.2mg/kg (intubation RSI dose)
- 0.6mg/kg (for repeat paralysis)
- Onset - 60s
- Duration- 25-60 min
Vecuronium
Dose:
- 0.1mg/kg
- Onset - 60-90 seconds
- Duration - 65 minutes (95% complete recovery)
7 Ps
Preparation
- SOAPME: (Suction, oxygen, airway, pharmacology, monitoring, equipment)
Preoxygenation
- Nitrogen wash-out
- 100% NRB for 3-5min or 8 VC breaths (BVM) with high-flow O2
- Apneic oxygenation with NC at 6L/min while setting up and increase to 15L/min once patient is sedated
Pretreatment
- Ischemic heart disease/dissection: Fentanyl 3-5mcg/kg
- Increased ICP: Fentanyl 3-5mcg/kg (+/- lidocaine 1.5mg/kg (some think drop in MAP not worth it))
- Reactive Airway disease: Lidocaine 1.5mg/kg (suppresses cough reflex)
- Peds (age <1): Atropine 0.01-.02mg/kg (min 0.1mg, max 0.5mg)
- Controversial
Paralysis with induction
- INDUCTION
- Etomidate (0.3mg/kg)
- Especially good for hypotensive/trauma patients
- Hemodynamically neutral, lowers ICP
- Lowers seizure threshold in patients with known seizure disorder
- Does NOT blunt sympathetic reaction to intubation (no analgesic effect)
- Adrenal suppression is likely irrelevant with one-time dose
- Ketamine (1-4mg/kg)
- Agent of choice for asthmatics
- Available in IM form
- Sympathomimetic
- Avoid in patient with increased ICP AND hypertension
- Consider in patient with increased. ICP AND hypotension or normal BP
- Midazolam (0.2mg/kg)
- Consider in patient with CHF (nitro-life effect → decrease ventilator filling pressure)
- Consider in patient in status epilepticus (anti-seizure effect)
- May decrease MAP, especially if patient hypovolemic
- Propofol (1.5 to 3mg/kg)
- Consider in patient with bronchospasm
- Decreases MAP, CPP
- Etomidate (0.3mg/kg)
- PARALYSIS
- Succinylcholine
- 1.5mg/kg - better to overdose than to underdose
- 2mg/kg - neonates/infants
- Contraindications
- Stroke <6 months old, MS, muscular dystrophies
- ECG changes consistent with hyperkalemia
- OK to use in crush injury, acute stroke as long as within 3 days of occurrence
- Rocuronium
- 1-1.2mg/kg
- Consider not paralyzing in these situations
- Expanding neck hematoma, to keep integrity of strap muscles
- Unable to BVM due to facial hair, micrognathia
- Unable to move to cricothyroidotomy (angioedema, goiter, anterior neck mass)
- Succinylcholine
Protection and positioning
- Sniffing position
Pass Tube
- Intubation
- End-tidal CO2 detection is primary means of ETT placement confirmation
- Cola-complication: need CO2 detection for at least 6 ventilations
Postintubation management
- CXR
- Sedation
- Benzos
- Lorazepam 1-4mg bolus; then 0.01-0.1mg/kg/hr (titrate q1hr)
- Midazolam 1-5mg bolus; then 0.04-0.2mg/kg/hr (titrate q1hr)
- Propofol
- 5-80mcg/kg/min (titrate q10min)
- Benzos
- Analgesia
- Fentanyl 1-2mcg/kg bolus; then 25-250mcg/hr (titrate q20min)
- Paralysis (if needed)
- Vecuronium 10mg, then 7mg/hr
See Also
- Intubation
- Delayed sequence intubation
- Vasopressors
- Critical care quick reference
- EBQ:Comparison of Succinylcholine and Rocuronium for RSI
External Links
References
- ↑ AHA 2015 guidelines comparison full text
- ↑ Sokolove PE et al. The safety of etomidate for emergency rapid sequence intubation of pediatric patients. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2000;16(1):18-21.
- ↑ Dmello D et al. Outcomes of etomidate in severe sepsis and septic shock. Chest. 2010;138(6):1327-1332.
- ↑ Scherzer D et al. Pro-con debate: etomidate or ketamine for rapid sequence intubation in pediatric patients. J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther JPPT Off J PPAG. 2012;17(2):142-149. doi:10.5863/1551-6776-17.2.142