Optimisation Strategy for Emergency Tracheal Intubation

Several studies have reported positive impact of some interventions on the tracheal intubation-related complications incidence. Providing bag face-mask ventilation between medication administration and initiation of laryngoscopy significantly reduced the number of peri intubation hypoxemia episodes. The use of a non-depolarizing (rocuronium) paralytic agent instead of succinylcholine is associated with less post-intubation complications occurrence. Finally, use of a tracheal tube introducer (GEB) as an aid for intubation in emergency patients with at least one prognostic factor of difficult laryngoscopy has been shown to facilitate intubation. Assessment of a strategy combining these three interventions to reduce intubation related morbidity in emergency situations has never been assessed. It is expected that the combination of these interventions will drastically reduce the morbidity associated with emergency intubation. The strategy assessed will associate rocuronium use as paralyzing agent to facilitate intubation, bag mask ventilation before intubation and GEB use at first intubation attempt in all patients. The emergency physician in charge of the patients will record out-of hospital outcomes immediately after the out-of-hospital period. Intra-hospital data will be retrieved from the patient's medical record on the 28th day after inclusion.