Rapid sequence induction

Rapid sequence induction/intubation
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In anaesthesia and advanced airway management, rapid sequence induction (RSI) – also referred to as rapid sequence intubation or as rapid sequence induction and intubation (RSII) or as crash induction[1] – is a special process for endotracheal intubation that is used where the patient is at a high risk of pulmonary aspiration. It differs from other techniques for inducing general anesthesia in that several extra precautions are taken to minimize the time between giving the induction drugs and securing the tube, during which period the patient's airway is essentially unprotected.[2]

One important difference between RSI and routine tracheal intubation is that the anesthesiologist does not typically manually assist the ventilation of the lungs after the onset of general anesthesia and cessation of breathing until the trachea has been intubated and the cuff has been inflated.[3] RSI is typically used in patients who are at high risk of aspiration or who are critically ill and may be performed by anaesthesiologists, intensivists, emergency physicians or, in some regions, paramedics.

  1. ^ Nasr NF, Al-Jindi PC, Nasr IF (2018). "Chapter 16. Rapid Sequence Intubation". In Reichman EF (ed.). Reichman's Emergency Medicine Procedures (3 ed.). McGraw-Hill Education. ISBN 9781259861925.
  2. ^ Wallace C, McGuire B (2014). "Rapid sequence induction: its place in modern anaesthesia". Continuing Education in Anaesthesia, Critical Care & Pain. 14 (3): 130–135. doi:10.1093/bjaceaccp/mkt047.
  3. ^ Stone DJ and Gal TJ (2000). "Airway management". In Miller RD (ed.). Anesthesia, Volume 1 (5th ed.). Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone. pp. 1414–51. ISBN 978-0-443-07995-5.