Urgent tracheal intubation in general hospital units: an observational study

Study ObjectiveTo determine the frequency of complications and outcomes of urgent intubations in general hospital units.DesignProspective, observational, cohort study.SettingUniversity-affiliated hospital.Patients150 patients who underwent tracheal intubation in the general care units.InterventionsA standardized data collection form was used prospectively to record events at the time of intubation. Patient outcomes were extracted from the medical record.Measurements and Main ResultsThe complication rate was 27%. The most common complications were multiple attempts (9% required >2 intubations) and esophageal intubation (9%). The complication rate for elective intubation (22%) was similar to the complication rate for emergent intubations (27%). Of patients intubated in the general care units, 52% survived and 33% of these were discharged. There was no significant difference (P = 0.46) in survival between the patients intubated electively (59%) and emergently (50%). There was no significant difference (P = 0.63) in survival between patients with (48%) and without complications (54%).ConclusionsEndotracheal intubation in general hospital units carries a high rate of complications, and patients who are intubated in general hospital units have a high mortality.