title: Under-dosing of etomidate for rapid sequence intubation in the emergency department.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to determine if patients who weigh ≥100 kg are more likely to receive under-dosing of etomidate compared to those who weigh <100 kg for rapid sequence intubation in the emergency department (ED).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective cohort study conducted in an academic ED in the United States. Adult patients who received etomidate for rapid sequence intubation were evaluated and categorized into two groups based on weight: 1) <100 kg or 2) ≥100 kg. The mean dose of etomidate (mg/kg) was compared between the groups using an unpaired Student's t-test. The percentage of patients who received under-dosing (less than 0.2 mg/kg) was compared between groups using the Chi-squared test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 200 patients were included in the final analyses (100 patients in the <100 kg group and 100 patients in the ≥100 kg group). There were no baseline differences in age, sex, paralytic used, or trauma status between the treatment groups. The mean etomidate dose (mg/kg ± standard deviation) was significantly lower in the ≥100 kg group compared to the <100 kg group (0.18 ± 0.03 vs. 0.28 ± 0.07, respectively; p<0.001). There were significantly more patients in the ≥100 kg group who received under-dosing of etomidate compared to the <100 kg group (68% vs. 2%, respectively; p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients who weigh ≥100 kg are more likely to receive under-dosing of etomidate compared to those who weigh <100 kg for rapid sequence intubation in the ED.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice & Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin, P.O. Box 210202, Tucson, AZ 85721-0207, USA. patanwala@pharmacy.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: Brittany R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Traylor
authors.forename: Asad E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Patanwala
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sakles
authors.forename: Brian L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Erstad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005045:Etomidate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D005045:Etomidate