Intubation practice patterns in Tuscan emergency departments

Intubation is one of the most important life-saving procedures performed by emergency physicians (EPs). There is variation in practice when different countries are compared.

A written questionnaire on intubation practices was administered to a group of Italian doctors practicing in Tuscany during the examination period of a year-long course in emergency medicine.

The survey was administered to 153 participants. Of these, 143 (93.4%) returned a complete survey. In the sub-group of physicians who work in the emergency department (ED), 73.6% report intubating patients. Of those that intubate patients, 92.3% use some sort of sedation, and 49.3% use paralytics. While direct visualization of the cords for intubation and auscultation of breath sounds after intubation are almost universal (97% and 100%, respectively), only 11.9% use colorimetric CO2 detectors for confirmation of intubation. After intubation 58.2% commonly place a nasogastric tube and 50.7% obtain a post intubation chest radiograph.

Practice patterns in the USA and Tuscany are different. RSI and post-intubation radiographs are the standard of care in EDs in the USA. This is not the case in Tuscany.