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.