RAPID-SEQUENCE INTUBATION OF THE PEDIATRIC-PATIENT

Airway compromise is the most common cause of death and severe morbidi ty in acutely ill and injured children. Rapid-sequence intubation (RSI ) is a technique for emergency airway control designed to maximize suc cessful endotracheal intubation while minimizing the adverse physiolog ic effects of this procedure. RSI requires familiarity with patient ev aluation, airway-management techniques, sedation agents, neuromuscular blocking agents, additional adjunctive agents, and postintubation man agement techniques. Emergency physicians should use RSI techniques in the endotracheal intubation of critically iii children.