Ramped Versus Supine Position for Emergent Endotracheal Intubation in Adult Patients; Prospective, Randomized, Comparative Study

Plain-language summary

Endotracheal intubation is a life saving procedure for critically unwell and injured patients presenting to the emergency department. Prolonged time to successful intubation and multiple failed attempts are associated with a higher incidence of life-threatening adverse events such as hypoxia and hypotension. Optimal head and neck positioning and clinical experience are important factors for successful endotracheal intubation in patients especially with a difficult airway. This study aims to investigate the rate of successful endotracheal intubation between ramped and supine positions in patients planned for intubation. The ramped position, where the bed is kept half-flat and the head is elevated up to 35°, is planned to prove that it improves glottic view and facilitate intubation and ventilation. Varying bed angles and heights during ramped position intubation may explain conflicting evidence regarding the effect of ramped position on intubation success in acute care settings. Therefore, it seems that finding a simple alternative method for the classic supine technique that can create conditions like the proposed standard conditions for laryngoscopy would be a suitable solution for intubating patients with higher difficulty. The patient's anatomy and the technique employed for laryngoscopy have a significant effect on the laryngeal view. The technique itself is influenced by a variety of factors including the laryngoscopic force and the skills, experience, and training of the physicians.

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