Changing clinical practice to maximize success of ICU airway management
In 2010, Jaber and colleagues demonstrated a lower incidence of hypoxemia and severe hemodynamic collapse with the implementation of an intubation bundle that included the use of NMBs for all rapid-sequence inductions (Jaber S, et al. Int Care Med. 2010;36:248). The safety of using paralytics in critically ill patients was later investigated by Wilcox and colleagues in a prospective, observational study that suggested a decrease in the incidence of hypoxemia and complications when employing NMB (Wilcox SR, et al. Crit Care Med. 2012;40[6]:1808). Although Wilcox et al.’s study was hypothesis-generating by the nature of its design, it was consistent with both Jaber’s findings and a more recent observational study performed by Moser et al (Mosier JM, et al. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2015;12[5]:734). Furthermore, there is no evidence that NMBs worsen bag mask ventilation in the critically ill patient. NMBs in addition to induction agents might be associated with optimal intubating conditions, reduced complications, and allow for placement of a supraglottic airway device or surgical airway in the event of a CICO (Higgs A, et al. Br J Anaesth. 2018;120[2]:323).
Checking the checklists
Checklists are another intervention with the potential to improve outcomes or reduce adverse events. Airway management is often a complex process with significant opportunities for failure. Therefore, having reminders or checklists available to the provider may encourage the use of best practices. Jaber demonstrated that a straightforward, 10-point intubation bundle reduced the incidence of severe complications associated with emergent intubation in the ICU. In the 4th National Audit Project of the Royal College of Anaesthetists and Difficult Airway Society, the use of checklists was recommended as a method to reduce adverse events and increase successful airway management (Cook TM, et al. Br J Anaesth. 2011;106[5]:632). In fact, several mnemonics have been developed to aid the practitioner, including the ‘7 Ps’ in the Manual of Emergency Airway Management (Walls RM, et al. Manual of Emergency Airway Management. 2012) and APPROACH from the CHEST Airway Management Training Team. More recently, Janz and colleagues developed and employed a checklist in a multicenter study and compared it with usual practice (Janz DR, et al. Chest. 2018;153[4]:816). Although the checklist was associated with improved provider compliance with airway assessment, preparation, and verbalization of a plan, it did not go far enough to include the known interventions for optimizing preoxygenation and hemodynamic stability. Two elements that might be included in a checklist include fluids and vasopressors administration during the pre-intubation and post-intubation period, and preoxygenation with noninvasive ventilation. The former is associated with a lower incidence of hypotension, while the latter may reduce the incidence of severe hypoxemia in ICU intubations (Baillard C, et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2006;174[2]:171).
Keeping apprised of evidence and adjusting practice are crucial to the competent clinician engaging in airway management, as they minimize the risk of harm while maximizing the benefit to the patient. However, the methods to achieve these goals are not always intuitive. Definitive high-level evidence is sparse. The use of neuromuscular blockade and BMV after induction has historically been controversial, but more recent evidence is favoring these approaches for RSI. The use of checklists or guidelines may ensure that the necessary safety steps are followed, especially at institutions that may not have experts in airway management. Over time, the hope is that many of our traditional practices are either supported by quality evidence or better techniques evolve.
Dr. Tokarczyk is with the Department of Anesthesia, NorthShore University HealthSystem; and Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine. Dr. Greenberg is Editor-in-Chief, Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) Newsletter; Vice Chairperson, Education, Department of Anesthesiology; Director of Critical Care Services, Evanston Hospital; NorthShore University HealthSystem; and Clinical Professor, Department of Anesthesiology Critical Care, University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine.
