Intubation Drugs

Respiratory and compromised airways are one of the leading causes of death and severe morbidity in adults and the elderly. Therefore, cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques, such as intubation, are one of the most important aspects when managing this type of emergency. In this article, we will discuss the main drugs used in intubation.

Intubation is a very common procedure in emergency services and intensive care, regardless of the condition that determines the need for this advanced procedure.

There are several obstacles to the procedure, generated by the anatomy of the laryngeal structures, the limited time to solve the problem and the low visibility of the structures. Medical professionals use certain medications that help them intubate patients more easily.

What is intubation (or intubation)?

Intubation involves the rapid insertion of a tube into the trachea to provide an open path to the air. After doctors insert the tube, the patient is able to breathe more easily.

Intubation is the preferred method for airway control due to its advantages. On the one hand, it insulates the airways, allowing them to remain open. On the other hand, intubation prevents gastric insufflation, which occurs when the stomach fills with air.

Intubation helps deep tracheal breathing and causes the patient to receive a high concentration of oxygen. This procedure also eliminates the need for a properly sealed face mask and is an additional way to administer medications.

When is intubation necessary?

There are precise instructions on when to perform this procedure, the most common cause being cardiopulmonary arrest. However, there are other situations that require intubation.

For example, patients who need to isolate or protect their airways, those who have suffered traumatic brain injury with a Glasgow scale below 8 points, or people with respiratory failure greater than 30 or less than 10 breaths per minute require intubation.

In addition, doctors may intubate a person with imminent respiratory failure or airway edema, either due to burns or anaphylaxis.

Drugs used for intubation

During intubation, the body produces a strong response to adrenergic shock that occurs along with tachycardia, hypertension and increased intracranial and ocular pressure. For this reason, there is a pre-oxygenation stage, in which doctors administer the following drugs to reduce this physiological response: