Check for a Cuff Leak in Patients who Might have Tracheal EDEMA Before Extubation E. David Bravos MD Critically ill patients often require intubation and mechanical ventilation. Along with the…
Do not Overinflate the Endotracheal Cuff Gregory Dalencourt MD Elizabeth A. Martinez MD, MHS A large percentage of patients who are cared for in the intensive care unit (ICU) are…
Remember that Even a Fully Inflated Cuff on the Endotracheal Tube is not Adequate Protection Against Aspiration Ashita Goel MD Case A 45-year-old obese male presented as an emergency to…
Position the Tip of the Endotracheal Tube 4 Centimeters Above the Carina Leo Hsiao DO Establishment of the airway is an integral part of any resuscitative algorithm. In the acute…
Consider Early Tracheostomy in Select Patients Konstantinos Spaniolas MD George C. Velmahos MD, PHD The timing of tracheostomy presents an ongoing debate. Studies are inconsistent on what is considered early…
Use Bronchoscopic Guidance for Bedside Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy (PDT) Susanna L. Matsen MD Elliott R. Haut MD Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) has quickly become the standard method for conversion from…
Always Use a Vertical Incision when Performing a Cricothyroidotomy Brandon R. Bruns MD Heidi L. Frankel MD No situation in medicine is as stressful as the management of a patient…
Have a Low Threshold for Contacting the Most Experienced Available Airway Professional in Patients with Diseases Associated with Difficult Airways Lauren C. Berkow MD Patients in the intensive care unit…
Do not use The Presence of End-Tidal CO2 to Rule Out Esophageal Intubation Patricia M. Veloso MD Scenario You are called to emergently intubate an obese woman for increasing respiratory…
Use Cricoid Pressure when Performing Rapid Sequence Intubation or Bag-Mask Ventilation Rahul G. Baijal MD Cricoid pressure, first described by Sellick in 1961, is used to occlude the upper esophagus…
