Videolaryngoscopy in critical care and emergency locations: moving from debating benefit to implementation.

The recently published INTUBE study subanalysis and DEVICE trial findings both demonstrate a clear benefit of videolaryngoscopy over direct laryngoscopy in facilitating tracheal intubation of patients in the emergency department and ICU. We consider the increasing evidence supporting the use of videolaryngoscopy, the possible reasons behind its relatively slow adoption into clinical practice, and the potential role of the hyperangulated videolaryngoscope blade. We discuss the significance of improved first-pass tracheal intubation success in reducing the overall risk of complications in critically ill patients. Additionally, we address the need for specific training in videolaryngoscopy in order to maximise patient benefit, and propose that adequate training and rehearsal opportunities in videolaryngoscopy can only be realised by widespread and regular use wherever the clinical setting.

Tracheal intubation in an urban emergency department in Scotland: a prospective, observational study of 3738 intubations.

AIM: The emergency department (ED) is an area where major airway difficulties can occur, often as complications of rapid sequence induction (RSI). We undertook a prospective, observational study of tracheal intubation performed in a large, urban UK ED to study this further. METHODS: We reviewed data on every intubation attempt made in our ED between January 1999 and December 2011. We recorded techniques and drugs used, intubator details, success rate, and associated complications. Tracheal intubation in our ED is managed jointly by emergency physicians and anaesthetists; an anaesthetist is contacted to attend to support ED staff when RSI is being performed. RESULTS: We included 3738 intubations in analysis. 2749 (74%) were RSIs, 361 (10%) were other drug combinations, and 628 (17%) received no drugs. Emergency physicians performed 78% and anaesthetists 22% of intubations. Tracheal intubation was successful in 3724 patients (99.6%). First time success rate was 85%; 98% of patients were successfully intubated with two or fewer attempts, and three patients (0.1%) had more than three attempts. Intubation failed in 14 patients; five (0.13%) had a surgical airway performed. Associated complications occurred in 286 (8%) patients. The incidence of complications was associated with the number of attempts made; 7% in one attempt, 15% in two attempts, and 32% in three attempts (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: A collaborative approach between emergency physicians and anaesthetists contributed to a high rate of successful intubation and a low rate of complications. Close collaboration in training and delivery of service models is essential to maintain these high standards and achieve further improvement where possible.

Survival from profound metabolic acidosis due to hypovolaemic shock. A world record?

This case describes the unexpected survival of an adult man who presented to the emergency department with hypovolaemic shock secondary to a splenic haemorrhage. Before surgery he had a pH 6.527, base excess (BE) -34.2 mmol/l and lactate 15.6 mmol/l. He underwent a splenectomy after which his condition stabilised. He was managed in the intensive care unit postoperatively where he required organ support including renal replacement therapy but was subsequently discharged home with no neurological or renal deficit. Although there are case reports of patients surviving such profound metabolic acidosis these have mainly been cases of near drowning or toxic alcohol ingestion. To the best of our knowledge this is the first reported case of survival after a pH of 6.5 secondary to hypovolaemic shock.