Complications of emergency tracheal intubation: hemodynamic alterations--part I

Emergency airway management outside the elective operating room presents considerable risks to the patient and significant challenges to the practitioner. Complications and adverse consequences are commonplace, yet they have not received their justified discussion or scrutiny in the literature. This review will discuss potentially life-threatening complications partitioned into 2 broad categories: hemodynamic and airway. Part 1 will focus on alterations in the heart rate and blood pressure, new onset cardiac dysrhythmias and cardiac arrest. Part 2 will explore airway related consequences such as hypoxemia, esophageal intubation, multiple intubation attempts, and aspiration.