Table 2 ED airway management characteristics in 1,903 study patients, by age group
Management | All patients(n = 1,903) | Age ≥ 65 years(n = 975) | Age < 65 years(n = 928) |
|---|---|---|---|
Initial method (%) | |||
 Sedation without paralysis | 682 (36) | 360 (37) | 322 (35) |
 Oral without medication | 546 (29) | 298 (31) | 248 (27) |
 Rapid sequence intubation | 542 (28) | 269 (28) | 273 (29) |
 Other* | 133 (7) | 48 (5) | 85 (9) |
Initial device (%) | |||
 Direct laryngoscope | 1,810 (95) | 933 (96) | 877 (95) |
 Video laryngoscope | 44 (2) | 17 (2) | 27 (3) |
 Other†| 49 (3) | 25 (3) | 24 (2) |
Sedative (%) | |||
 No sedatives | 724 (38) | 372 (38) | 352 (38) |
 Benzodiazepine | 630 (22) | 343 (35) | 287 (31) |
 Propofol | 447 (23) | 205 (21) | 242 (26) |
 Ketamine | 66 (3) | 42 (4) | 24 (3) |
 Other‡ | 36 (2) | 13 (1) | 23 (2) |
Paralytic (%) | |||
 No paralytics | 1,291 (68) | 689 (71) | 602 (65) |
 Rocuronium | 402 (21) | 177 (18) | 225 (24) |
 Vecuronium | 150 (8) | 75 (8) | 75 (8) |
 Succinylcholine | 60 (3) | 34 (3) | 26 (3) |
Specialty of first intubator (%) | |||
 Transitional year resident§ | 703 (37) | 384 (39) | 319 (34) |
 Emergency medicine resident | 648 (34) | 298 (31) | 350 (39) |
 Emergency physician | 348 (18) | 180 (18) | 168 (18) |
 Other specialties¶ | 202 (11) | 113 (12) | 89 (10) |
 Number of intubation attempts, median (IQR) | 1(1–2) | 1(1–2) | 1 (1–2) |
  > 3 intubation attempts (%) | 255 (13) | 128 (13) | 127 (14) |
 Ultimate intubation success (%) | 5 (< 1) | 3 (< 1) | 2 (< 1) |