title: Retrograde intubation.
abstract: Airway management in the emergency department is a critical skill that must be mastered by emergency physicians. When rapid-sequence induction with oral-tracheal intubation performed by way of direct laryngoscopy is difficult or impossible due to a variety of circumstances, an alternative method or device must be used for a rescue airway. Retrograde intubation requires little equipment and has few contraindications. This technique is easy to learn and has a high level of skill retention. Familiarity with this technique is a valuable addition to the airway-management armamentarium of emergency physicians caring for ill or injured patients. Variations of the technique have been described, and their use depends on the individual circumstances.
authors.affiliation: David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Department of Emergency Medicine, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, 1000 West Carson Street, Box 21, Torrance, CA 90504, USA. burbulys@emedharbor.edu
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Burbulys
authors.forename: Kianusch
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kiai
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000628:therapy*; D000075202:Contraindications; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004867:Equipment Design; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods*