Pediatric Airway Management Part 1: The Anxiety Outweighs the Difficulty

This podcast is brought to you by the letter “U”. Pediatric intubations are Uncommon, use Unusual equipment sizes, and can be Upsetting cases. It’s no surprise that these cases can cause a great deal of anxiety. So let’s talk about the steps we can take to set ourselves and our patients up for success the next time we have to manage a pediatric airway.

References

The lecture version with slides– Under “April 2020: COVID-19” link at the bottom (ACEP membership required)

How common are pediatric intubations?

Preparation is key! Get a weight or use a length based resuscitation tape

Cuff it whenever you can

In a pinch? Use the ear to size your LMA.

No routine premeds, but have them around

The first debate: Ketamine vs Etomidate

The second debate: Succinylcholine vs. Rocuronium