Prehospital endotracheal intubation for trauma does not improve survival over bag-valve-mask ventilation

Abstract

Background: Few data exist supporting a survival benefit to prehospital endotracheal intubation (ETI) over bag-valve-mask ventilation (BVM) in trauma patients.

Methods: Data were reviewed from all trauma patients transported to our Level I trauma center receiving prehospital ETI or BVM. Mortality was adjusted by age, Revised Trauma Score, Injury Severity Score, and mechanism of injury (penetrating vs. blunt).

Results: Of 5,773 patients, 316 (5.5%) had ETI and 217 (3.8%) had BVM. Patients receiving ETI were significantly more like to die (88.9% vs. 30.9%, p < 0.0001). When corrected for Injury Severity Score, Revised Trauma Score, and mechanism of injury, ETI was associated with similar or greater mortality than BVM. ETI patients had longer prehospital times (22.0 vs. 20.1 minutes, p = 0.0241).

Conclusion: In our trauma system, when corrected for mechanism and severity of anatomic and physiologic injury, ETI confers no survival advantage over BVM and slightly increases prehospital time.