Induction Agent For Rapid Sequence Intubation Research Articles

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Introduction: Etomidate is a standard induction agent used during rapid sequence intubation (RSI) in the emergency department (ED). Drug shortages require healthcare professionals to utilize alternative agents such as propofol, though there is limited data to support its use. Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of adult patients in the ED who received propofol or etomidate for induction during RSI. The primary endpoint was hypotension, defined as a systolic blood pressure (SBP) <90mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) <60mmHg, within the first hour of administration of the induction agent. Time to intubation, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), hospital LOS, and in-hospital mortality were also evaluated. Results: Two hundred seventy-five patient charts were reviewed. Of the 98 patients included, 43 patients received propofol and 55 patients received etomidate. Propofol was associated with an increased incidence of hypotension within the first hour of intubation (65.1% vs. 25.5%, p<0.001). There was no difference in the time to intubation, (51.2% vs. 34.6%, p=0.83), or hospital and ICU LOS between the propofol and etomidate groups (7.7 vs. 9.2 days, p= 0.23; 4.2 vs. 6.3 days, p= 0.31). The mortality rate was 11.6% in the propofol group and 27.3% in the etomidate group (p= 0.004). Conclusions: The use of propofol compared to etomidate was safe and effective as an induction agent for RSI, however it was associated with an increased rate of hypotension within the first hour of intubation.

Pro-Con Debate: Etomidate or Ketamine for Rapid Sequence Intubation in Pediatric Patients

When caring for critically ill children, airway management remains a primary determinant of the eventual outcome. Airway control with endotracheal intubation is frequently necessary. Rapid sequence intubation (RSI) is generally used in emergency airway management to protect the airway from passive regurgitation of gastric contents. Along with a rapid acting neuromuscular blocking agent, sedation is an essential element of RSI. A significant safety concern regarding sedatives is the risk of hypotension and cardiovascular collapse, especially in critically ill patients or those with pre-existing comorbid conditions. Ketamine and etomidate, both of which provide effective sedation with limited effects on hemodynamic function, have become increasingly popular as induction agents for RSI. However, experience and clinical investigations have raised safety concerns associated with both etomidate and ketamine. Using a pro-con debate style, the following manuscript discusses the use of ketamine versus etomidate in RSI.

Does Etomidate Increase Vasopressor Requirements in Patients Needing Mechanical Ventilation?

Single-dose etomidate is used as an induction agent for rapid-sequence intubation and is associated with transient adrenal insufficiency. There is ongoing debate as to the clinical consequences of this transient adrenal insufficiency for critically ill patients. To determine if the use of etomidate is associated with higher requirements for a vasopressor, relative to other induction agents, at a single time point (24 h after administration of the induction agent) in patients needing mechanical ventilation. In this retrospective observational study utilizing electronic health records, a convenience sample of 50 patients who had undergone intubation in the emergency department with etomidate were matched (1:1) with patients who had received other induction agents. Matching was based on primary admitting diagnosis relating to the cause of shock, APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II) score, age, and sex. All patients were subsequently admitted to critical care areas for management. As a surrogate marker of hemodynamic instability, the vasopressor dose was recorded 24 h after intubation. Vasopressor doses were converted to norepinephrine equivalents for comparison. The mean dose of vasopressors, in norepinephrine equivalents, was 4 μg/min(-1) for patients receiving etomidate and 3 μg/min(-1) for the control group (mean difference 0.7 μg min(-1), 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.9 to 3.2 μg min(-1), p = 0.61). Twelve of the patients in the etomidate group and 16 of those in the control group required the use of vasopressors at 24 h following intubation (odds ratio 2.3, 95% CI 0.53 to 13.99, p = 0.34). Single-dose etomidate does not adversely affect hemodynamic stability, as measured by the dose of vasopressors required at 24 h after administration.

Ketamine/Midazolam Versus Etomidate/Fentanyl

Orthopedic reductions are commonly performed procedures requiring sedation in the pediatric emergency department (PED). Ketamine is a widely used agent for pediatric procedural sedation, but its use may present difficulties in select populations, such as those with psychiatric diagnoses. In such a case, alternative agents that are safe and effective are needed. Etomidate is a commonly used induction agent for rapid-sequence intubation in the PED. Several retrospective and few prospective studies support etomidate's safety and efficacy in pediatric procedural sedation. The objective was to compare etomidate/fentanyl (E/F) with ketamine/midazolam (K/M) for procedural sedation during orthopedic reductions in the PED. Prospective, partially blinded, randomized controlled study comparing intravenously administered K/M with intravenously administered E/F. A convenience sample of patients, aged 5 to 18 years, presenting to an urban PED with fracture requiring reduction was enrolled. Outcome measures included guardian and staff completion of visual analog scale and Likert scales for observed pain and satisfaction, blinded OSBD-r (Observational Scale of Behavioral Distress-Revised) scoring of digital recordings of reductions, and sedation and recovery times. Descriptive tracking of adverse effects, adverse events, and interventions were recorded at the sedation. Twenty-three patients were enrolled, 11 in the K/M group and 12 in the E/F group. The K/M group had significantly lower mean OSBD-r scores compared with the E/F group (0.08 vs 0.89, P = 0.001). Parents rated lower visual analog scale scores with K/M than with E/F (13.7 vs 50.5, P = 0.003) and favored K/M on a 5-point satisfaction scale (P = 0.004). The E/F group had significantly shorter total sedation times (49.6 vs 77.6 minutes, P = 0.003) and recovery times (24.7 vs 61.4 minutes, P = 0.000). There were no significant differences with respect to procedural amnesia and orthopedic practitioner satisfaction. Adverse effects noted in the K/M group included dysphoric emergence reaction and vomiting. Vomiting, injection-site pain, myoclonus, airway readjustment, and supplemental oxygen use were observed in the E/F group. This is a small study that strongly suggests that, for pediatric orthopedic reductions, K/M is more effective at reducing observed distress than E/F, although both provide equal procedural amnesia. With its significantly shorter sedation and recovery times, E/F may be more applicable for procedural sedation for shorter, simpler procedures in the PED.

A Prospective Observational Study of the Effect of Etomidate on Septic Patient Mortality and Length of Stay

Etomidate is known to cause adrenal suppression after single-bolus administration. Some studies suggest that when etomidate is used as an induction agent for intubation of septic patients in the emergency department (ED), this adrenal suppression leads to increased mortality, vasopressor requirements, and length of hospital stay. The authors sought to determine differences in the in-hospital mortality and hospital length of stay (LOS) between septic patients given etomidate and patients given alternative or no induction agents for rapid-sequence intubation in our ED. This was a nonrandomized, prospective observational study of all patients meeting sepsis criteria who were intubated in an ED over a 9-month period. Times of patient presentation, intubation, admission, discharge, and/or death were recorded, as well as the intubation agent used, if any, and corticosteroid use. The authors also recorded relevant laboratory and demographic variables to determine severity of illness using the Mortality in Emergency Department Sepsis (MEDS) score. Mortality and survivor LOS between the patients given etomidate and those given alternative or no induction agents were compared. A total of 106 patients with sepsis were intubated over the study period. Of these, 74 patients received etomidate, while 32 patients received ketamine, benzodiazepines, propofol, or no induction agents. Age in years (median = 78; interquartile range [IQR] = 67 to 83), gender (45% male), MEDS score (median = 13; IQR = 10 to 15), and receipt of supplemental corticosteroids (56%) were statistically similar between the two groups. In-hospital mortality of patients given etomidate (38%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 28% to 49%) was similar to those receiving alternatives (44%; 95% CI = 28% to 61%). Surviving patients had a median hospital LOS after receiving etomidate of 10 days compared to those receiving alternatives (7.5 days; p = 0.08). No statistically significant increase in hospital LOS or mortality in patients given etomidate for rapid-sequence intubation was found. Suggestions that the use of etomidate for intubation in the ED be abandoned are not supported by these data.

Use of Etomidate as an Induction Agent for Rapid Sequence Intubation in a Pediatric Emergency Department

Objectives: Although etomidate is widely used for rapid sequence intubation (RSI), there is no consensus on the optimal induction agent and no prospective pediatric emergency department (ED) study exists. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of etomidate as an induction agent for RSI in the pediatric ED. Methods: Data on RSI conditions and complications were collected prospectively on patients undergoing RSI in a tertiary pediatric ED from January 2003 to December 2003. ED hemodynamic data and inpatient data were collected retrospectively via chart review. Results: Seventy-seven of 101 patients requiring intubation underwent RSI with etomidate. The mean (± SD) age was 8.2 (± 6.2) years. All 77 patients were successfully intubated. Intubation condition data were available for 69 of 77 patients (89.6%). Conditions were good in 68 of 69 (99%; 95% confidence interval = 92.2% to 99.9%). The mean (± SD) maximal percent decrease in systolic blood pressure was 10% (± 13.6%). A greater than 20% maximal percent decrease in systolic blood pressure occurred in 12 of 69 patients (17.4%; 95% confidence interval = 9.3% to 28.4%). There was no relationship between seizures after etomidate administration and prior seizure history (p = 0.25). Corticosteroids were given to 29 of 77 patients post-RSI for varying diagnoses. All eight patients given corticosteroids for shock were in shock at the time of intubation. Conclusions: In the pediatric ED setting, etomidate as an induction agent provided successful RSI conditions and resulted in varied hemodynamic changes that were especially favorable in those patients presenting in decompensated shock. Hypotension and seizures were uncommon and occurred in patients with confounding diagnoses. Until the significance of a single dose of etomidate on adrenal dysfunction is further clarified, caution should be used in those patients at risk for adrenal insufficiency.

Use of Etomidate as an Induction Agent for Rapid Sequence Intubation in a Pediatric Emergency Department

Although etomidate is widely used for rapid sequence intubation (RSI), there is no consensus on the optimal induction agent and no prospective pediatric emergency department (ED) study exists. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of etomidate as an induction agent for RSI in the pediatric ED. Data on RSI conditions and complications were collected prospectively on patients undergoing RSI in a tertiary pediatric ED from January 2003 to December 2003. ED hemodynamic data and inpatient data were collected retrospectively via chart review. Seventy-seven of 101 patients requiring intubation underwent RSI with etomidate. The mean (+/- SD) age was 8.2 (+/- 6.2) years. All 77 patients were successfully intubated. Intubation condition data were available for 69 of 77 patients (89.6%). Conditions were good in 68 of 69 (99%; 95% confidence interval = 92.2% to 99.9%). The mean (+/- SD) maximal percent decrease in systolic blood pressure was 10% (+/- 13.6%). A greater than 20% maximal percent decrease in systolic blood pressure occurred in 12 of 69 patients (17.4%; 95% confidence interval = 9.3% to 28.4%). There was no relationship between seizures after etomidate administration and prior seizure history (p = 0.25). Corticosteroids were given to 29 of 77 patients post-RSI for varying diagnoses. All eight patients given corticosteroids for shock were in shock at the time of intubation. In the pediatric ED setting, etomidate as an induction agent provided successful RSI conditions and resulted in varied hemodynamic changes that were especially favorable in those patients presenting in decompensated shock. Hypotension and seizures were uncommon and occurred in patients with confounding diagnoses. Until the significance of a single dose of etomidate on adrenal dysfunction is further clarified, caution should be used in those patients at risk for adrenal insufficiency.

Underdosing of Midazolam in Emergency Endotracheal Intubation

Objectives: To determine whether midazolam, when used as an induction agent for emergency department (ED) rapid‐sequence intubation (RSI), is used in adequate and recommended induction doses (0.1 to 0.3 mg/kg), and to compare the accuracy of the dosing of midazolam for ED RSI with the accuracy of dosing of other agents. Methods: The authors conducted a systematic query of a prospectively collected database of ED intubations using the National Emergency Airway Registry data, gathered in 11 participating EDs over a 16‐month period. A data form completed at the time of emergency department intubation (EDI) enabled analysis of patients' ages, weights, and indications for EDI, as well as the techniques and drugs used to facilitate EDI. Data were analyzed to determine whether midazolam is used in recommended doses during RSI. Patients intubated with midazolam alone were compared with patients who received other induction agents for RSI. Results: Of 1,288 patients entered in the study, 1,023 (79%) underwent RSI. Of the 888 RSI patients with an age recorded, midazolam was used as the sole induction agent in 140 (16%). The mean (±SD) dosages of midazolam used in RSI were 2.6 (±1.7) mg in children (age ≤ 18) and 3.7 (±2.5) mg in adults (age ≥19); the mean (±SD) dosages by weight were 0.08 (±0.04) mg/kg in children and 0.05 (±0.03) mg/kg in adults. More than half (56%) of the children, and nearly all (92%) of the adults, received dosages lower than the minimum recommended dosage (0.1 mg/kg). Of patients who received barbiturates, only 21% of children and 21% of adults received a dose lower than the minimum recommended. When combined with another induction agent, midazolam was dosed similarly to when it was used alone: mean adult doses were 3.1 (±1.2) mg and 0.04 (±0.02) mg/kg. Conclusions: Underdosing of midazolam during ED RSI is frequent, and appears to be related to incorrect dosage selection, rather than to a deliberate intention to reduce the dose used.