Incidence of desaturation during prehospital rapid sequence intubation in a physician-based helicopter emergency service.
BACKGROUND
Hypoxemia may occur during rapid sequence intubation (RSI). This study establishes the incidence of this adverse event in patients intubated by physicians in a helicopter emergency service in Norway.


METHODS
This was a prospective, observational study of all RSIs performed by helicopter emergency service physicians during a 12-month period. Hypoxemia was defined as a decrease in Spo(2) values to below 90% or a decrease of more than 10% if the initial Spo(2) was less than 90%.


RESULTS
A total of 122 prehospital intubations were performed during the study period. Spo(2) data were available for 101 (82.8%) patients. Hypoxemia was present in 11 (10.9%) patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Prehospital, RSI-related hypoxemia rates in this study are lower than reported rates in similar studies and are comparable with in-hospital rates. Prehospital RSI may accordingly be considered a safe procedure when performed by experienced physicians with appropriate field training.
Nakstad
Anders Rostrup
AR
The Air Ambulance Department, Oslo University Hospital, Nordbyhagen, Norway.
Heimdal
Hans-Julius
HJ
Strand
Terje
T
Sandberg
Mårten
M
D000328:Adult; D017732:Air Ambulances; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015994:Incidence; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric