- •ICU Protocols
- •Preface
- •Acknowledgments
- •Contents
- •Contributors
- •1: Airway Management
- •Suggested Reading
- •2: Acute Respiratory Failure
- •Suggested Reading
- •Suggested Reading
- •Website
- •4: Basic Mechanical Ventilation
- •Suggested Reading
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •7: Weaning
- •Suggested Reading
- •8: Massive Hemoptysis
- •Suggested Reading
- •9: Pulmonary Thromboembolism
- •Suggested Reading
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •11: Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
- •Suggested Readings
- •12: Pleural Diseases
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •13: Sleep-Disordered Breathing
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •14: Oxygen Therapy
- •Suggested Reading
- •15: Pulse Oximetry and Capnography
- •Conclusion
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •16: Hemodynamic Monitoring
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •17: Echocardiography
- •Suggested Readings
- •Websites
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •19: Cardiorespiratory Arrest
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •20: Cardiogenic Shock
- •Suggested Reading
- •21: Acute Heart Failure
- •Suggested Reading
- •22: Cardiac Arrhythmias
- •Suggested Reading
- •Website
- •23: Acute Coronary Syndromes
- •Suggested Reading
- •Website
- •Suggested Reading
- •25: Aortic Dissection
- •Suggested Reading
- •26: Cerebrovascular Accident
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •27: Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •28: Status Epilepticus
- •Suggested Reading
- •29: Acute Flaccid Paralysis
- •Suggested Readings
- •30: Coma
- •Suggested Reading
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •32: Acute Febrile Encephalopathy
- •Suggested Reading
- •33: Sedation and Analgesia
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •34: Brain Death
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •35: Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- •Suggested Reading
- •36: Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- •Suggested Reading
- •37: Acute Diarrhea
- •Suggested Reading
- •38: Acute Abdominal Distension
- •Suggested Reading
- •39: Intra-abdominal Hypertension
- •Suggested Reading
- •Website
- •40: Acute Pancreatitis
- •Suggested Reading
- •Website
- •41: Acute Liver Failure
- •Suggested Reading
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •43: Nutrition Support
- •Suggested Reading
- •44: Acute Renal Failure
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •45: Renal Replacement Therapy
- •Suggested Reading
- •Website
- •46: Managing a Patient on Dialysis
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •47: Drug Dosing
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •48: General Measures of Infection Control
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •49: Antibiotic Stewardship
- •Suggested Reading
- •Website
- •50: Septic Shock
- •Suggested Reading
- •51: Severe Tropical Infections
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •52: New-Onset Fever
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •53: Fungal Infections
- •Suggested Reading
- •Suggested Reading
- •Website
- •55: Hyponatremia
- •Suggested Reading
- •56: Hypernatremia
- •Suggested Reading
- •57: Hypokalemia and Hyperkalemia
- •57.1 Hyperkalemia
- •Suggested Reading
- •Website
- •58: Arterial Blood Gases
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •59: Diabetic Emergencies
- •59.1 Hyperglycemic Emergencies
- •59.2 Hypoglycemia
- •Suggested Reading
- •60: Glycemic Control in the ICU
- •Suggested Reading
- •61: Transfusion Practices and Complications
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •Suggested Reading
- •Website
- •63: Onco-emergencies
- •63.1 Hypercalcemia
- •63.2 ECG Changes in Hypercalcemia
- •63.3 Superior Vena Cava Syndrome
- •63.4 Malignant Spinal Cord Compression
- •Suggested Reading
- •64: General Management of Trauma
- •Suggested Reading
- •65: Severe Head and Spinal Cord Injury
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •66: Torso Trauma
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •67: Burn Management
- •Suggested Reading
- •68: General Poisoning Management
- •Suggested Reading
- •69: Syndromic Approach to Poisoning
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •70: Drug Abuse
- •Suggested Reading
- •71: Snakebite
- •Suggested Reading
- •72: Heat Stroke and Hypothermia
- •72.1 Heat Stroke
- •72.2 Hypothermia
- •Suggested Reading
- •73: Jaundice in Pregnancy
- •Suggested Reading
- •Suggested Reading
- •75: Severe Preeclampsia
- •Suggested Reading
- •76: General Issues in Perioperative Care
- •Suggested Reading
- •Web Site
- •77.1 Cardiac Surgery
- •77.2 Thoracic Surgery
- •77.3 Neurosurgery
- •Suggested Reading
- •78: Initial Assessment and Resuscitation
- •Suggested Reading
- •79: Comprehensive ICU Care
- •Suggested Reading
- •Website
- •80: Quality Control
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •81: Ethical Principles in End-of-Life Care
- •Suggested Reading
- •82: ICU Organization and Training
- •Suggested Reading
- •Website
- •83: Transportation of Critically Ill Patients
- •83.1 Intrahospital Transport
- •83.2 Interhospital Transport
- •Suggested Reading
- •84: Scoring Systems
- •Suggested Reading
- •Websites
- •85: Mechanical Ventilation
- •Suggested Reading
- •86: Acute Severe Asthma
- •Suggested Reading
- •87: Status Epilepticus
- •Suggested Reading
- •88: Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock
- •Suggested Reading
- •89: Acute Intracranial Hypertension
- •Suggested Reading
- •90: Multiorgan Failure
- •90.1 Concurrent Management of Hepatic Dysfunction
- •Suggested Readings
- •91: Central Line Placement
- •Suggested Reading
- •92: Arterial Catheterization
- •Suggested Reading
- •93: Pulmonary Artery Catheterization
- •Suggested Reading
- •Website
- •Suggested Reading
- •95: Temporary Pacemaker Insertion
- •Suggested Reading
- •96: Percutaneous Tracheostomy
- •Suggested Reading
- •97: Thoracentesis
- •Suggested Reading
- •98: Chest Tube Placement
- •Suggested Reading
- •99: Pericardiocentesis
- •Suggested Reading
- •100: Lumbar Puncture
- •Suggested Reading
- •Website
- •101: Intra-aortic Balloon Pump
- •Suggested Reading
- •Appendices
- •Appendix A
- •Appendix B
- •Common ICU Formulae
- •Appendix C
- •Appendix D: Syllabus for ICU Training
- •Index
Airway Management |
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Sheila Nainan Myatra and Jigeeshu V. Divatia |
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A 60-year-old morbidly obese diabetic male patient with a left lobar pneumonia was shifted from the ward to the intensive care unit (ICU). He had history of progressive breathlessness and altered mental status for 6 h. He was drowsy but arousable, and had a respiratory rate of 33 breaths/min. SpO2 was 92% with facemask using 6 L of oxygen per min. Heart rate was 110/min and blood pressure was 90/60 mmHg.
Tracheal intubation is one of the most commonly performed procedures in the ICU. In the ICU, unlike in the operating room with controlled conditions, a significant proportion of these procedures can be associated with life-threatening complications. This chapter gives a stepwise approach to airway management in the ICU, along with a detailed description of the preparation, assessment, procedure, precautions, maintenance, and complications associated with tracheal intubation.
Step 1: Be prepared for advanced airway management before arrival
•History from the treating team will give you some idea of the equipment and expertise needed for airway management (e.g., mental state, respiratory and hemodynamic status, time of last feeding, comorbidities that might complicate airway management, and contraindications to succinylcholine/other drugs).
•Check oxygen source, properly working suction, airway tray/cart, monitors, drugs, and personal protection equipment are ready.
S.N. Myatra, M.D. (*)
Department of Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India e-mail: sheila150@hotmail.com
J.V. Divatia, M.D., F.I.S.C.C.M.
Department of Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain, Tata Memorial Hospital,
Mumbai, India
R. Chawla and S. Todi (eds.), ICU Protocols: A stepwise approach, |
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DOI 10.1007/978-81-322-0535-7_1, © Springer India 2012 |
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S.N. Myatra and J.V. Divatia |
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Step 2: Initial assessment, preoxygenation, and ventilation
Remember, failure to intubate will not harm a patient but failure to oxygenate/ ventilate will. Ensure adequate oxygenation at all times.
•Critically ill patients may have oxygen transport limitation and time-consuming airway management. During apnea, the time for oxyhemoglobin desaturation below 85% is much faster in these patients. Thus, maximal preoxygenation (at least 3 min) is recommended to buy adequate time to tolerate apnea during intubation.
•Instead of a simple facemask, give high-flow oxygen (12–15 L per min) using the mask and AMBU bag with a reservoir bag. This way you will be ready to ventilate if required and can give higher oxygen concentration (provide 100% oxygen).
•Check breathing, with the airway open (head-tilt/chin-lift/jaw-thrust maneuver), look for adequate chest expansion and rate of breathing, listen for audible breath sound (also auscultate chest), and feel for airflow.
•If the patient is not breathing adequately with airway open, perform bag-mask ventilation with a reservoir bag attached. Ensure adequate chest rise. Hold the mask with both hands if ventilation is difficult.
•Bag-mask ventilation may be difficult in the following cases: obesity, presence of a beard, facial deformity/dressing, massive/heavy jaw, large tongue, edentulousness, any airway pathology, poor neck extension, history of snoring, and obstructive sleep apnea.
•Clear upper airway obstruction if present:
–Snoring, gurgling sound, paradoxical movement of the chest wall (inward movement during inspiration) and abdomen and inadequate/absent chest rise during ventilation may suggest upper airway obstruction.
–Perform an oral or nasal (with soft malleable catheter) suctioning for no more than 10 s at a time and resume oxygenation soon after.
–Use an oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal airway if obstruction is not cleared by suctioning. The airway should have a length equivalent to distance from the tip of the nose/angle of the mouth to the tragus. Nasopharyngeal airway diameter should be less than the patient’s nostril. It should be avoided if the patient has risk of nasal trauma/bleeding or cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea.
•Currently it is recommended to preoxygenate using noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in case of acute respiratory failure whenever possible. Use pressure
support ventilation with FiO2 of 1.0, inspiratory pressure support from 5 to 15 cmH2O, to obtain an expiratory tidal volume between 6 and 8 mL/kg and positive end-expiratory pressure of 5 cmH2O.
•Attach the cardiac monitor, noninvasive blood pressure, and pulse oximeter and secure the intravenous line. These setups should not hamper/delay ventilation and oxygenation.
Step 3: Assess the need for tracheal intubation
•Look for clinical signs of acute respiratory failure: anxiousness, sweating, restlessness, cyanosis, shortness of breath, rapid breathing and air hunger, use of accessory muscles of ventilation, paradoxical abdominal breathing, exhaustion, confused state or drowsiness.
1 Airway Management |
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Table 1.1 Mallampati classificationa (modified by Samsoon and Young) |
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Mallampati class |
Intraoral structures visible |
Class I |
Soft palate, fauces, uvula, pillars |
Class II |
Soft palate, fauces, portion of uvula |
Class III |
Soft palate, base of uvula |
Class IV |
Hard palate only (later added by Samsoon and Young) |
aBy S. Rao Mallampati
Mallampati classification is based on the structures seen with maximal mouth opening and tongue protrusion without phonation in the sitting position. The observer’s eye should be at the level of the patient’s mouth. This classification correlates with intubation difficulty
•Arterial blood gas analysis may help measure disease severity. However, it should not replace clinical evaluation or delay need for airway intervention.
•Common indication of endotracheal intubation are as follows:
–Facilitation of invasive mechanical ventilation (inadequate oxygenation/ ventilation, shock, cardiac arrest, avoidance of hypercarbia, controlled hyperventilation, need for neuromuscular paralysis, postoperative elective ventilation)
–Protection of the respiratory tract from aspiration of gastric contents
–Tracheobronchial toilet
–Relief of upper airway obstruction
Step 4: Assessment for difficult intubation
•Several methods are available; however, they are often impractical to use and also difficult to assess in the ICU unlike in the operating room, especially during emergency airway management.
•Generally accepted, independent predictors of difficult airway in controlled setting which can be quickly and easily assessed are as follows:
–Length of upper incisor—relatively long
–Interincisor distance—less than two fingers (3 cm)
–Overbite—maxillary incisors override mandibular incisors
–Temporomandibular joint translation—cannot place mandibular incisors anterior to maxillary incisors
–Mandibular space compliance—small, stiff, indurated, or occupied by mass
–Thyromental distance—less than three fingers (6 cm)
–Mallampati class—III and IV (Table 1.1 and Fig. 1.1)
–Neck—short, thick
–Limited neck mobility—cannot touch chin to chest or cannot extend neck
•Despite outward appearances, a history of difficult intubation may be the most reliable predictor of future difficult intubation.
•Call for help in advance if difficulty in oxygenation, ventilation or intubation is anticipated.
Step 5: Checklist before intubation
Providing adequate ventilation is a priority over intubation. Hence, do not attempt intubation until everything is ready. Before intubation, check the following:
•Fasting status
•Oxygen source and working suction
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S.N. Myatra and J.V. Divatia |
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Fig. 1.1 Mallampati classification (modified by Samsoon and Young)
•Monitoring present (cardiac monitor, noninvasive blood pressure, pulse oximeter). Intra-arterial pressure monitoring is preferable and may be considered prior to nonemergency intubations especially in patients with shock.
•The intravenous line is secured. Fluid loading is recommended (isotonic saline 500 mL or colloid 250 mL) in absence of cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Be prepared to treat hypotension.
•All airway equipment are at hand (Table 1.2) and checked.
–Working laryngoscopes (two blades—one standard blade and one long blade): Check light.
–Endotracheal tubes (ETTs): Keep appropriate size tube ready (at least two). Check cuff for leaks and apply jelly on the cuff. The ETT with subglottic suction should preferably be used for all patients in whom prolonged intubation is anticipated.
•All the appropriate drugs are drawn up and ready (Table 1.3).
•Personal protection is adequate (gloves, mask, and eye protection) and expert help is available in case of anticipated difficult airway.
•If the patient is to be ventilated, set up the ventilator and prepare drugs for long-term sedation.
Step 6: Proceed with tracheal intubation
•Proper positioning (refer to Fig. 1.2)
–Remove the head board and position the patient’s head at the edge of the bed resting on a pillow of at least 10 cm thickness, with the forehead at the level of operators xiphisternum.
–Flex the patient’s neck and extend the head (sniffing position). This aligns the oral, pharyngeal, and laryngeal axes making pathway from lips to glottis nearly in a straight line.
1 Airway Management |
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Table 1.2 Intubation tray/portable intubation cart—basic equipment
The contents of the intubation cart may be modified as per the need of the ICU and airway skills of the users
1.Preoxygenation and Ventilation
Self-inflating ventilating bag with a reservoir bag attached /anesthesia circuit (for positive pressure ventilation)
Face masks various sizes
Oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal airway
2.Endotracheal Intubation
Laryngoscope—At least 2 blades (assortment of Miller and Macintosh blades)
Endotracheal Tube—Appropriately sized (at least 2) size 7.5–8.5 in adult males and 6.5–7.5 in adult females. ETT with subglottic suction should be preferably used for all patients in whom prolonged intubations is anticipated
Lignocaine jelly
10 ml. syringe for inflating tube cuff Magill’s
Stylet
Bougie
Tube fixator/tapes and ties
3.End-tidal CO2 monitor/disposable CO2 detector device
4.Drugs
Induction agents and muscle relaxants (refer to Table 1.3) Topical anesthetics and vasoconstrictors
Vasopressors to treat hypotension
5.Fiberoptic Bronchoscope
6.Rescue Devices—LMA/ILMA and cricothyroidotomy set
–In patients with suspected cervical spine injury, maintain the head in neutral position and give manual in-line cervical stabilization. Use the cervical collar at all times during airway manipulations.
•Drug therapy (preintubation): The choice of agents (Table 1.3) will depend on the hemodynamic status of the patient and the anticipated nature of difficulty in intubation.
–Patients may be given intravenous fentanyl, morphine, or midazolam. Physicians with appropriate experience may choose to use anesthetic induction agents such as ketamine, thiopentone sodium, propofol, or etomidate. These drugs should be given slowly to effect with or without muscle relaxants. Intravenous ketamine, unless contraindicated, is the preferred induction agent, especially in hemodynamically unstable patients.
–Etomidate is cardiostable, but there are concerns of adrenal insufficiency following even a single dose.
–Propofol can cause profound hypotension and myocardial depression and should be used with extreme caution.
Table 1.3 Drugs used to facilitate intubation |
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Usual intravenous |
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Name |
dose |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
Anesthetic, amnesic, and analgesic drugs |
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Midazolam |
0.02–0.2 mg/kg |
Relatively cardiostable |
Optimum intubation condition may not be obtained |
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Better amnesia |
when used alone |
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Sedation |
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Fentanyl |
0.05–0.4 mg |
Fast-acting |
Optimum intubation condition may not be obtained |
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Relatively cardiostable |
when used alone |
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Analgesia |
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Cough suppression |
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Useful in combination with midazolam |
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Morphine |
0.05–0.2 mg/kg |
Analgesia |
Optimum intubation condition may not be obtained |
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Cough suppression |
when used alone |
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Useful in combination with midazolam |
Hypotension |
Ketamine |
1–2 mg/kg |
Cardiostable |
Increased intracranial/introcular pressure |
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Bronchodilator |
Does not suppress airway reflexes |
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Potent analgesic |
Hypertension and tachycardia |
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Safe induction of anesthesia |
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Propofol |
1–2.5 mg /kg |
Bronchodilatation useful in COPD/asthma |
Can cause profound hypotension and bradycardia |
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Suppression of airway reflexes |
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Reduces ICP |
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Etomidate |
0.2–0.6 mg/kg |
Cardiostable |
Adrenal suppression |
Thiopentone sodium |
5–7 mg/kg |
Rapid induction |
Hypotension |
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Reduces ICP |
Can precipitate laryngospasm and bronchospasm |
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Divatia .V.J and Myatra .N.S
Neuromuscular blocking agents
Succinylcholine |
0.5–2 mg/kg |
Rapid action (1 min) and short duration (up |
Hyperkalemia and cardiac arrest |
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to 10 min) hence ideal for RSI |
Contraindicated in severe acidosis, acute or chronic |
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neuromuscular disease, burn patients and cervical |
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spine trauma (upto 6 months),lower motor neuron |
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disease |
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Malignant hyperthermia |
Rocuronium bromide |
0.4–2.0 mg/kg |
Rapid action (60–90 s) hence ideal for RSI |
Long acting (30–90 min) |
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No complications associated with Scoline |
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Vecuronium bromide |
0.05–0.1 mg/kg |
Cardiostable |
Long acting (30–60 min) |
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Delayed action |
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Atracurium besylate |
0.4–0.5 mg/kg |
Not metabolized by liver or kidney |
Long acting (20–30 min) |
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Delayed action |
Histamine release |
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Hypotension |
Management Airway 1
9
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PA OA
LA
Fig. 1.2 Ideal head and neck position during intubation showing alignment of the oral, pharyngeal, and laryngeal axes (OA, PA, LA)
–Rapidly acting muscle relaxants such as succinylcholine/rocuronium may be used for rapid sequence intubation. Succinylcholine is used only in absence of hyperkalemia, severe acidosis, acute or chronic neuromuscular disease, extensive burn, and cervical trauma.
–Longer-acting muscle relaxants (e.g., atracurium and vecuronium) should be given only after confirming that ventilation is possible.
–Note that in sick, fatigued patients, very small drug doses may be sufficient. Inject drugs very slowly and until effect (do not give calculated/standard induction doses).
•Rapid sequence intubation (RSI): As most ICU patients are at a risk of aspiration, this sequence should preferably be performed during all intubations.
–After giving adequate preoxygenation and proper position, cricoid pressure is given just before the beginning of induction. As soon as the patient is asleep, increase the pressure.
–Use only rapidly acting muscle relaxants (suxamethonium or rocuronium) while maintaining cricoid pressure.
–Only if saturation is not maintained, give gentle positive pressure ventilation (modified RSI).
–Perform laryngoscopy and intubation. Hold the laryngoscope handle in the left hand. Open the mouth of the patient with the thumb and the index finger of the right hand. Insert the laryngoscope blade gently into the mouth from the right-side angle of the mouth and move it to the left side taking the tongue along with the blade as it is inserted further inside the mouth. When the epiglottis is visualized, insert the curved blade into the vallecula and pull the laryngoscope forward and upward to expose the glottis (Fig. 1.3). Now, insert the ETT using the right hand between the vocal cords under direct vision.
1 Airway Management |
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Fig. 1.3 Glottic view during laryngoscopy
–For nasal intubation, use prior nasal mucosal vasoconstrictors and lubrication; Magill’s forceps may be used to guide the tube into the trachea.
–Optimal external laryngeal manipulation (OELM) with the right hand or by an assistant by quickly pressing in both cephalad and posterior direction over the thyroid, cricoids or hyoid cartilage may be used to further optimize laryngoscopic view.
–Use of stylet in ETT, bougie (a thin long plastic/rubber cylinder with a bent tip that is passed through the partially visible glottic opening and then the ETT is guided over it), or other airway adjunct can aid oral intubation.
–After intubation, inflate the ETT cuff just enough (usually 4–6 mL) to avoid pharyngeal leak during ventilation.
–Release cricoid pressure only after intubation, cuff inflation, and confirmation of tube placement.
•Confirm tracheal tube placement (clinically by auscultation over the stomach and lungs (5-point auscultation): The gold standard to confirm correct tube place-
ment is by using end-tidal CO2 with a portable capnograph (wait to see five to six waveforms before confirmation). Disposable calorimetric CO2 detectors devices may be used instead. If in doubt, confirm by direct visualization of the tube between cords. If still in doubt, take it out and continue bag-mask ventilation.
•Proper tube positioning (ideally 2.5–4 cm above carina): Confirm bilaterally equal chest expansion and air entry in the lungs by auscultation. Using depth of tube insertion (i.e tube fixation at 20 cm. mark for females and 22 cm. mark for males at the incisor level) is most superior method to determine proper tube position in adults. When all above 3 methods are combined, the sensitivity is 100% and the specificity is 95%. Make a note of the exact distance of the ETT at the lips/nose on the case notes and ICU chart. This position should be noted daily during every nursing shift.
•Tube fixation: Secure the ETT with two tube tapes and preferably also a tube tie or use a commercial ETT fixator. Insert an oro/nasogastric tube under direct vision.
•Anticipate and treat hypotension with vasopressors and colloids.
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Step 7: Steps after tracheal intubation
•Initiate mechanical ventilation if required.
•Give analgesia and sedation as required.
•Obtain chest radiograph to confirm tube position, bilateral lung expansion, and oro/nasogastric tube position.
•Do not start feeding until position of oro/nasogastric tube is confirmed on chest radiograph.
•Check the ETT cuff pressure using the cuff pressure machine and maintain it below 20 mmHg at all times.
Step 8: Management of a difficult airway
•Anticipated difficult airway
–Ensure that expert airway help is available before attempting tracheal intubation.
–If ventilation is not possible, avoid the use of muscle relaxants.
–An awake fiber optic intubation with the flexible fiberscope is the gold standard for an anticipated difficult airway and can be used for both oral and nasal intubations. It should be considered as the first option rather than the last resort in such a situation.
–Videolaryngoscopes may be used if available and will give an optimum view, making intubation easier, especially in a difficult airway setting.
•Unanticipated difficult airway (Fig. 1.4)
Step 9: Watch for and treat immediate complications of endotracheal intubation
•Esophageal intubation/endobronchial intubations/accidental ETT disconnec- tions—atelectasis formation/collapse in the unventilated lung and hyperinflation and barotrauma with development of pneumothorax of the intubated lung (in endobronchial intubations) can cause profound hypoxemia manifesting as bradycardia and even progressing to cardiac arrest
•Hypertension, tachycardia, raised intracranial pressure, and myocardial ischemia due to stimulation from laryngoscopy and intubation
•Hypotension due to loss of sympathetic tone from drugs for intubation or dynamic hyperinflation due to hyperventilation or relative dehydration
•Aspiration of gastric contents
•Airway trauma, bleeding
•Negative pressure pulmonary edema after sudden relief of severe airway obstruction
•Cardiac arrest
Step 10: Follow a protocol for airway maintenance
•Proper maintenance of the airway will reduce the incidence of accidental extubations, disconnections, tube blockage, and nosocomial pneumonia.
•Keep the head elevated at 30–45°.
•All ETT and tracheostomy tubes (TT) should be checked for position at incisor teeth/alae nasi, adequate fixation, patency, tracheal cuff pressure (<20 mmHg), and pharyngeal leak during each shift and should be documented.
1 Airway Management |
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Bag-mask ventilation following induction
Easy
Give muscle relaxants and proceed to intubate
Difficult or impossible
Call for help
Attempt intubation
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optimization of |
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laryngoscopy and |
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Insert laryngeal mask airway |
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intubation using |
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Continue bag- |
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mask ventilation |
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Immediate |
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or insert |
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with |
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ventilate |
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cricothyroidotomy |
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(using needles or |
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commercial sets) |
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Get expert help for Intubation |
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Consider surgical airway if intubation is unsuccessful
Fig. 1.4 Unanticipated difficult airway management
•In case of oral ETTs, secure firmly at the angle of the mouth and change position preferably every 24 h to avoid sores/ulcers.
•Oral ETTs (without subglottic suction) should be cut 2–3 cm from the angle of the mouth.
•The universal connector should be pushed right down to its shoulder to avoid accidental disconnections.
•Confirm correct positioning of ETTs above the carina on the X-ray and document in the case notes.