An Update on Airway Management in the Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Tracheal intubation is a frequent and dangerous procedure in the intensive care units (ICU), and is usually performed in more difficult conditions than in the operating room. Intubation failure can occur unexpectedly, and is the second most common event reflected in the ICU in the NAP4. Complications that cause damage to the patient (severe hypoxemia, arrhythmia, hypotension, cardiovascular collapse, etc.). Videolaryngoscopes present theoretical benefits, as proper and correct use, offering the potential to reduce the difficulty of intubation in the ICU. Videolaryngoscopes allow a view of the entrance of glottis independent of the line of sight, and have also been shown to improve glottis and intubation success rates, specifically in patients with known predictors of the difficult airway (DA).

Keywords: Airway management, Complications, Critical patient, Difficult airway, ICU, Intensive care, Laryngoscopy, NAP4, Tracheal intubation, Videolaryngoscopes.