Continuous pulse oximetry during emergency endotracheal intubation.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether continuous pulse oximetry improves the recognition and management of hypoxemia during emergency endotracheal intubation.


METHODS
A prospective, serial 14-month study.


METHODS
Emergency department, Level I trauma center.


METHODS
All adult patients requiring emergency intubation for whom data collection would not compromise patient care.


METHODS
All samples were obtained from a finger site at a five-second sampling interval and stored in computer memory. Patients were intubated by the nasotracheal or orotracheal route.


RESULTS
One hundred ninety-one consecutive adult patients qualified for the study and 211 intubation attempts were analyzed. Hypoxemia (O2 saturation, less than 90%) occurred during an intubation attempt in 30 of 111 nonmonitored versus 15 of 100 monitored attempts (P < .05), and the duration of severe hypoxemia (O2 saturation, less than 85%) was significantly greater for nonmonitored attempts (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Continuous pulse oximetry monitoring reduces the frequency and duration of hypoxemia associated with emergency intubation attempts.
Mateer
J R
JR
Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
Olson
D W
DW
Stueven
H A
HA
Aufderheide
T P
TP
D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010092:Oximetry; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014193:Trauma Centers