Rapid Sequence Intubation (RSI) and Rapid Sequence Airway: An Airway911 Guide. 2nd ed. By Darren Braude, MD, EMT-P: Albuquerque (NM): Airway911; 192 pp, $50, ISBN 978-0-578-00903-2

Abstract

In his preface, the author says, “All I ask from you is not to let this book sit on the shelf; the airway is just too damn important.” As an emergency and flight nurse for more than 15 years, I loved this book. It is a great resource for those in emergency, critical care, or transport nursing. Even if you are not the person actually performing the intubation or placing the advanced alternate airway, this book is a wonderful review of the critical measures associated with emergency airway management. This book was written by a paramedic who later became an emergency and flight physician. His mix of real-life prehospital and ED experiences is especially evident when the author describes past airway management adventures. Eight chapters make up this very user-friendly guide: (1) Introduction; (2) Basic Principles; (3) Pharmacology; (4) The Difficult and Missed Airway; (5) Pediatric Considerations; (6) The 10 P’s of Rapid Sequence Intubation; (7) Rapid Sequence Airway; and (8) Legal Stuff and Quality Assurance. Most chapters also include the author’s practical “take home points.” The author uses real-life case scenarios throughout the book to summarize the previously presented information. In addition, the majority of paragraphs have one or more icons to the reader as to Evidence-based medicine (self explanatory); caution (highlighting potential pitfalls); or key (author’s most important points.) One of the most helpful features I found was the use of “blue boxes” throughout the book. The author describes the information in these boxes as “Advanced, Controversial, or Otherwise Supplementary Material.” The information in these boxes is written in a question and answer format, with such questions as: “Why does it seem like everyone eats and drinks right before their accident?,” “Is it possible to suffocate someone with a bag-valve-mask?,” and “I’ve heard that Fentanyl does not cause hypotension, but I swear I’ve seen it. Is that possible?” These boxes are a great way to summarize the medication, procedure, and equipment controversies in a very short and sweet manner. The author provides a non-biased review of traditional and new-to-the-market airway toys, medications, and placement confirmation devices. In addition, the concept of rapid sequence intubation versus rapid sequence airway is discussed at length. Rapid sequence airway is a vital addition to the current airway management armamentarium as more and more prehospital and emergency/critical care settings are now embracing this concept. The book, with more than 100 sharp, full-color pictures, is written in a style that is very easy to understand, and more importantly, very easy to remember. It is almost as if you were sitting down and talking about airway management with an experienced mentor. In summary, this book is an invaluable resource to emergency, critical care, and transport professionals, all of whom should remember the American Lung Association’s current motto, “If you can’t breathe…Nothing else matters!” Scott DeBoer is Flight Nurse, University of Chicago Hospitals; Transport Nurse, Superior Ambulance Service; and Founder, Peds-R-Us Medical Education, Chicago, IL.