Post Intubation Neurologic Outcomes in Critically Ill Adults

Critically ill patients undergoing emergent endotracheal intubation are at risk for oxygen desaturation in a variety of acute care settings. Such complication could arise from patient, operator, or procedure related factors. Evidence suggests that rapid sequence intubation (RSI) improves first-pass success and reduces complications in the critically ill. Nonetheless, the procedure is not without risks. In fact, emergency intubation is associated a reported oxygen desaturation rate of 10.9% - 33.5%. High quality pre-oxygenation has been shown to prolong time to desaturation during emergency airway management. Despite advances preoxygenation techniques, a significant number of patients undergoing emergency intubation still experience desaturation. Most of the time this is transient and easily reversible. Occasionally however, desaturation becomes critical and may result in devastating complications such as dysrhythmias or cardiopulmonary arrest.

The brain consumes a significant amount of energy and is exquisitely sensitive to hypoxia and hypoperfusion. Hypoxic brain injury occurs whenever oxygen delivery to the brain is compromised. The role of secondary brain insults including hypoxia and hypotension, in traumatic brain injury (TBI) is well established. Previous literature has demonstrated that a single event of hypoxemia in a head-injured patient substantially increases morbidity and mortality. This has resulted in airway management being a cornerstone in the care of unconscious TBI patients, to ensure adequate oxygen delivery to the injured brain. However, the significance and clinical sequalae of hypoxia during emergency intubation in critically ill, non-trauma patients is not known. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate neurologic function post-intubation of critically ill, non-trauma patients.