This podcast, EMCrit RACC Podcast 216 – The Hemodynamically Neutral Intubation [Link is to show notes and podcast] by Dr. Scott Weingart is awesome. It is definitely worth rereviewing. For this reason I have embedded a direct link to the podcast.
The podcast covers what to do when the patient’s condition is so tenuous that you feel sure he or she will likely arrest even if you perform the absolutely perfect rapid sequence intubation via Dr. Weingart’s technique described in Podcast 104 – Laryngoscope as a Murder Weapon (LAMW) Series – Hemodynamic Kills [Link is to 104’s podcast and show notes] August 5, 2013.
And below is the direct link to Podcast 216, The Hemodynamically Neutral Intubation:
The above podcast and the show notes are brief but powerful. [Note to myself: Review both on a regular basis]
And in the show notes Dr. Weingart provides a great reference and link:
A Technique of Awake Bronchoscopic Endotracheal Intubation for Respiratory Failure in Patients With Right Heart Failure and Pulmonary Hypertension [PubMed Abstract] [Full Text PDF]. Crit Care Med. 2017 Sep;45(9):e980-e984. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000002586.
Skill at airway management is one of the most important life saving skills for any clinician (regardless of professional credential). If the clinicians directing (or assisting in) the emergency care do not have the knowledge, skill and equipment to effectively manage an airway emergency, the patient can die quickly.
Over the years, Dr. Weingart and other emergency medicine leaders have provided us with outstanding free online resources to learn emergency and critical care airway management skills.
For a very complete list of resources on every aspect of airway management in critical care go to the Categories box on this blog and click on “Select Category”. Then from the long list, click on Airway Management.
In addition to the knowledge of the skills of airway management, the experts emphasize that we must practice our skills by using simulations and by being observed and critiqued performing the simulations by recognized experts*.
*The performance part of the equation can be mastered by observing correctly performed simulations (videos) and then videoing your team performing the simulation.
The video tape can then be remotely reviewed and critiqued by an expert in the procedure. This step ensures that you are performing the skill correctly.
Resources:
EMCrit RACC Podcast 216 – The Hemodynamically Neutral Intubation by Dr. Scott Weingart
