Indications for endotracheal intubation and ventilation

Abstract

The ability of the emergency physician to recognize and manage a patient with a compromised airway is probably the most important aspect of an individual’s care in the emergency department. Endotracheal intubation in a critically ill patient is a potentially hazardous procedure because of the technical difficulties that can be encountered during emergency airway management and the profound pathophy siological changes that the institution of mechanical ventilation can cause. This review article sets out to illustrate when invasive airway management should be considered and the potential consequences of attempts to perform endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation.