We performed a systematic review of randomized controlled studies evaluating any drug, technique or device aimed at improving the success rate or safety of tracheal intubation in the critically ill. We searched PubMed, BioMed Central, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Clinical Trials and references of retrieved articles. Finally, pertinent reviews were also scanned to detect further studies until May 2017. The following inclusion criteria were considered: tracheal intubation in adult critically ill patients; randomized controlled trial; study performed in Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department or ordinary ward; and work published in the last 20 years. Exclusion criteria were pre-hospital or operating theatre settings and simulation-based studies. Two investigators selected studies for the final analysis. Extracted data included first author, publication year, characteristics of patients and clinical settings, intervention details, comparators and relevant outcomes. The risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration’s Risk of Bias tool. We identified 22 trials on use of a pre-procedure check-list (1 study), pre-oxygenation or apneic oxygenation (6 studies), sedatives (3 studies), neuromuscular blocking agents (1 study), patient positioning (1 study), video laryngoscopy (9 studies), and post-intubation lung recruitment (1 study). Pre-oxygenation with non-invasive ventilation (NIV) and/or high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) showed a possible beneficial role. Post-intubation recruitment improved oxygenation, while ramped position increased the number of intubation attempts and thiopental had negative hemodynamic effects. No effect was found for use of a checklist, apneic oxygenation (on oxygenation and hemodynamics), videolaryngoscopy (on number and length of intubation attempts), sedatives and neuromuscular blockers (on hemodynamics). Finally, videolaryngoscopy was associated with severe adverse effects in multiple trials. The limited available evidence supports a beneficial role of pre-oxygenation with NIV and HFNC before intubation of critically ill patients. Recruitment maneuvers may increase post-intubation oxygenation. Ramped position increased the number of intubation attempts; thiopental had negative hemodynamic effects and videolaryngoscopy might favor adverse events.

Intubation is frequently required for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) but is associated with high morbidity and mortality mainly in emergency procedures and in the presence of severe organ failures. Improving the intubation procedure is a major goal for all ICU physicians worldwide, and videolaryngoscopy may play a relevant role. Videolaryngoscopes are a heterogeneous entity, including Macintosh blade-shaped optical laryngoscopes, anatomically shaped blade without a tube guide and anatomically shaped blade with a tube guide, which might have theoretical benefits and pitfalls. Videolaryngoscope/videolaryngoscopy improves glottis view and allows supervision by an expert during the intubation process; however, randomized controlled trials in the ICU suggest that the systematic use of videolaryngoscopes for every intubation cannot yet be recommended, especially in non-expert hands. Nevertheless, a videolaryngoscope should be available in all ICUs as a powerful tool to rescue difficult intubation or unsuccessful first-pass laryngoscopy, especially in expert hands. The use of associated devices such as bougie or stylet, glottis view needed (full vs incomplete) and patient position during intubation (ramped, sniffed position) should be further evaluated. Future trials will better define the role of videolaryngoscopy in ICU.

BACKGROUND: Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is increasingly utilized outside the ICU for patients with acute respiratory failure. However, success and failure risk factors and patient safety aspects have been poorly explored in this setting. So far, no study has evaluated the perspective of the patient, despite the known high relevance of patient participation for NIV success. METHODS: We prospectively interviewed (following a standard questionnaire) the patients successfully treated with NIV for acute respiratory failure outside the ICU. Subjects were interviewed 24–48 hours after NIV suspension. Exclusion criteria: NIV failure, patient not competent, patient unwilling to participate in the study, patient transferred to the ICU. RESULTS: Forty-five consecutive patients were included in the study. Only 20% participated in the initial setting of NIV parameters. More than 40% reported they never had the possibility to discuss the NIV treatment. Eighty percent reported they were never asked to try another interface. All subjects knew how to call for help, but only one fourth had been trained to remove the mask, and 22% reported not being able at all to remove the mask if needed. One half of the subjects reported having received help immediately when needed, but 15% waited more than 3 min. All subjects reported complications, and 18% reported respiratory worsening while on NIV. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects reported a low level of involvement in the initial setting of NIV treatment, low satisfaction about communication with the caring staff, and a suboptimal safety level in case of emergency.

Background: Tracheal intubation in patients at risk for secondary spinal cord injury is potentially difficult and risky.Objectives: To compare tracheal intubation techniques in adult patients at risk for secondary cervical spinal cord injury undergoing surgery. Primary outcome was first‐attempt failure rate. Secondary outcomes were time to successful intubation and procedure complications.Design: Systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with trial sequential analysis (TSA).Data Sources: Databases searched up to July 2019.Eligibility: Randomized controlled trials comparing different intubation techniques.Results: We included 18 trials enrolling 1972 patients. Four studies used the “awake” approach, but no study compared awake versus non‐awake techniques. In remaining 14 RCTs, intubation was performed under general anesthesia. First‐attempt failure rate was similar when comparing direct laryngoscopy or fiberoptic bronchoscopy versus other techniques. A better first‐attempt failure rate was found with videolaryngoscopy and when pooling all the fiberoptic techniques together. All these results appeared not significant at TSA, suggesting inconclusive evidence. Intubating lighted stylet allowed faster intubation. Postoperative neurological complications were 0.34% (no significant difference among techniques). No life‐threatening adverse event was reported; mild local complications were common (19.5%). The certainty of evidence was low to very low mainly due to high imprecision and indirectness.Conclusions: Videolaryngoscopy and fiberoptic‐assisted techniques might be associated with higher first‐attempt failure rate over controls. However, low to very low certainty of evidence does not allow firm conclusions on the best tracheal intubation in patients at risk for cervical spinal cord injury.