Rapid-sequence intubation of the pediatric patient. Pediatric Emergency Medicine Committee of the American College of Emergency Physicians

Abstract

Airway compromise is the most common cause of death and severe morbidity in acutely ill and injured children. Rapid-sequence intubation (RSI) is a technique for emergency airway control designed to maximize successful endotracheal intubation while minimizing the adverse physiologic effects of this procedure. RSI requires familiarity with patient evaluation, airway-management techniques, sedation agents, neuromuscular blocking agents, additional adjunctive agents, and postintubation management techniques. Emergency physicians should use RSI techniques in the endotracheal intubation of critically ill children.