passive preoxygenation - a radical concept

Next time you intubate someone...

consider putting them on a nasal cannula at 15L per min under the NRB.  

this article advocates it as a form of "apneic oxygenation" which can prevent desaturation during intubation. 

Awake patients will not tolerate it at 15L/min, so you can start with 4-5 L and then increase to 15 after giving your induction and paralytic medications.

The point: Apneic oxygenation can extend the duration of safe apnea.

Note: High O2 could decrease the respiratory drive, but this is for people who you are committed to intubating already.  

I would love to hear your success stories with this new method!

Submitted by S. Morris.

Reference(s): Weingart, S., Levitan, R.  Preoxygenation and Prevention of Desaturation During Emergency Airway Management. Annals of Emergency Medicine. Nov 2011. Vol 9. Iss 3. ; picture