Run Time: 4 minutes

Author: Dr. Aaron Lessen

Educational Pearls:

• Over the last few years, general consensus has strayed away from pre-hospital intubation in the field. This is because it has been found that interruptions to CPR (namely intubation and airway management) decrease the success of the patient.
• This was believed to be solved via the quick placement of a King Tube or a supraglottic device.
• This was believed widely until there was a study done on the placement of supraglottic devices in pigs during cardiac arrest decreased carotid blood flow.
• Multiple observational studies have shown patients have a higher rate of return of spontaneous circulation, greater rate of admission, and better neurological status upon discharge with endotracheal intubation in the field versus supraglottic device placement.

References:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26006743