Incidence of desaturation during prehospital rapid sequence intubation in a physician-based helicopter emergency service

Am J Emerg Med. 2011 Jul;29(6):639-44. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2010.01.013. Epub 2010 May 1.

Abstract

Background: Hypoxemia may occur during rapid sequence intubation (RSI). This study establishes the incidence of this adverse event in patients intubated by physicians in a helicopter emergency service in Norway.

Methods: This was a prospective, observational study of all RSIs performed by helicopter emergency service physicians during a 12-month period. Hypoxemia was defined as a decrease in Spo(2) values to below 90% or a decrease of more than 10% if the initial Spo(2) was less than 90%.

Results: A total of 122 prehospital intubations were performed during the study period. Spo(2) data were available for 101 (82.8%) patients. Hypoxemia was present in 11 (10.9%) patients.

Conclusions: Prehospital, RSI-related hypoxemia rates in this study are lower than reported rates in similar studies and are comparable with in-hospital rates. Prehospital RSI may accordingly be considered a safe procedure when performed by experienced physicians with appropriate field training.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Air Ambulances*
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia / epidemiology
  • Hypoxia / etiology*
  • Incidence
  • Intubation, Intratracheal / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Norway / epidemiology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Statistics, Nonparametric