title: Neuromuscular blocking agent administration for emergent tracheal intubation is associated with decreased prevalence of procedure-related complications.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Emergent intubation is associated with a high rate of complications. Neuromuscular blocking agents are routinely used in the operating room and emergency department to facilitate intubation. However, use of neuromuscular blocking agents during emergent airway management outside of the operating room and emergency department is controversial. We hypothesized that the use of neuromuscular blocking agents is associated with a decreased prevalence of hypoxemia and reduced rate of procedure-related complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five hundred sixty-six patients undergoing emergent intubations in two tertiary care centers, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, and the University of California Los Angeles, Ronald Reagan Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, were enrolled in a prospective, observational study. The 112 patients intubated during cardiopulmonary resuscitation were excluded, leaving 454 patients for analysis. All intubations were supervised by attendings trained in Critical Care Medicine. We measured intubating conditions, oxygen saturation during and 5 mins following intubation. We assessed the prevalence of procedure-related complications defined as esophageal intubation, traumatic intubation, aspiration, dental injury, and endobronchial intubation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The use of neuromuscular blocking agents was associated with a lower prevalence of hypoxemia (10.1% vs. 17.4%, p = .022) and a lower prevalence of procedure-related complications (3.1% vs. 8.3%, p = .012). This association persisted in a multivariate analysis, which controlled for airway grade, sedation, and institution. Use of neuromuscular blocking agents was associated with significantly improved intubating conditions (laryngeal view, p = .014; number of intubation attempts, p = .049). After controlling for the number of intubation attempts and laryngoscopic view, muscle relaxant use is an independent predictor of complications associated with emergency intubation (p = .037), and there is a trend towards improvement of oxygenation (p = .07).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of neuromuscular blocking agents, when used by intensivists with a high level of training and experience, is associated with a decrease in procedure-related complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. swilcox1@partners.org
authors.forename: Susan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Wilcox
authors.forename: Edward A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Bittner
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elmer
authors.forename: Todd A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Seigel
authors.forename: Nicole Thuy P
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Anahat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dhillon
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eikermann
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents