Introduction:

Endotracheal intubation in critically ill patients is a risky procedure that requires a high level of competence in airway management. It is essential to know the skills of pediatric emergency physicians in the advanced management of airways and difficult airways.

Objective:

To describe the advanced management of difficult airways and airways in a pediatric emergency department.

Materials and Methods:

This was an observational, descriptive and prospective study in patients from ages 0 to 18 years who required endotracheal intubation from May 10, 2018 to May 31, 2019. We evaluated pathophysiological diagnosis, prevalence of difficult airway, rapid intubation sequence intubation application, tools used for intubation, intubation time, attempts, operator characteristics and complications. Successful intubation patients was defined as intubation in two attempts.

Results:

93 patients were included, the median of age was 10 (0.7-192) months. In 19 (20.4%) patients, difficult airway prediction was identified, rapid intubation sequence was performed in 91 (97.8%) patients. The percentage of success was 83.9% (78/93). In the first attempt 59.1% (55/93) and in the second 50% (19/38). Operator change was required 19 times. All were intubated by conventional laryngoscopy The median for intubation time was 3 (2-5.5) minutes. The average number of attempts was 1.8 (± 1.3). The complication observed was oxygen desaturation in 23 (24.7%) patients.

Conclusion:

The first cause of intubation according to the diagnosis pathophysiological was cardiopulmonary failure. Difficult airway identification was relatively frequent.

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