48 Paediatric intubation in an adult-based community hospital emergency department (ED)

Abstract Background Airway intubation is a high-risk procedure, especially in the paediatric population. Training ED healthcare providers is challenging because it is rare. Success and adverse events (AEs) could be due to patients’ illness, the health professional intubating, and hospital factors. Objectives Describe paediatric intubations in an adult community-based hospital, with primary outcomes being first-pass success and AEs. The secondary objective is to determine what factors are association with intubation success and related AEs. Design/Methods Retrospective chart review of patients < 18 years intubated in the ED between Jan 1, 2006 and Mar 31, 2017 (demographics, intubation details, physiologic outcomes). Analysis: descriptive and comparative statistics (intubations with vs. without AEs), p<0.05 significant. Results n=121 intubations occurred in the ED over the 10-year period. Mean (standard deviation) age 6.9 (6.8) years. First pass success occurred in n=76 (62.8%), and 33 (27.3%) second pass success. There was n=22 (18.2) minor AEs, n=3 (2.5) major AEs. There were no significant differences between profession intubating and first pass success (p=0.384), or AEs (p=0.472), Table 1. Indications for intubation included respiratory and/or oxygenation failure n=54 (44.6%), airway protection n=51 (42.2%), airway obstruction n=4 (3.3%), cardiopulmonary arrest n=2 (1.7%) [n=9 missing]. Use of specialized equipment was used in n=19 of the intubations, n=12 on first attempt, 8 second attempt, 4 third attempt. No accidental extubations occurred, but the ETT was repositioned in n=33 (27%) after first intubation. Conclusion Pediatric intubation in an adult community-based hospital is rare. Success rate of intubation on first attempt is low with minor AEs. There was no significant difference between the type of health professional intubating. These results will inform the development of tools and education for paediatric advanced airway management in adult community-based hospitals, and enhance patient outcomes in the ED.