Why do I intubate cardiac arrest victims?

Pre-hospital airway management of cardiac arrest patients is an area of great controversy. In this opinion piece, we explore the reasons behind our belief that all patients suffering an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest should undergo endotracheal intubation. A review of current practice and guidelines suggests that endotracheal intubation should be performed by appropriately trained practitioners working within a specialised team that is adequately resourced and governed. The potential benefits of intubation, along with suggestions of how it should be delivered and by whom are described.