Endotracheal Intubation Among the Critically Ill: Protocol for a Multicenter, Observational, Prospective Study

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Anesthesiology
• Pulmonary Medicine

Background:

• Endotracheal intubation is common in critically ill patients (up to 60%).
• Current practices and the impact of new airway devices and sedation strategies are not well understood.
• Understanding these factors is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To derive and validate prediction models for immediate airway and hemodynamic complications during intensive care unit (ICU) intubations.
• To develop a scoring system to stratify patients at high risk for decompensation after intubation.
• To enhance preparedness and improve the quality of care for critically ill patients undergoing intubation.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter, observational, prospective study involving adult critically ill patients in medical and surgical ICUs across the US.
• Data collection focused on airway and hemodynamic management during intubation, using a standardized form.
• Rigorous quality checks ensured data accuracy with less than 10% missing values.

Main Results:

• Data analysis is currently underway.
• Results are anticipated in November 2018, with publication to follow.
• The study protocol is pending peer review.

Conclusions:

• The study aims to create a scoring system for peri-intubation complications.
• This system will help identify high-risk patients, enabling better preparation and care.
• The ultimate goal is to improve patient morbidity and mortality associated with ICU intubations.