Table 4.
Incidence of complications other than oxygen desaturation of emergent intubations in 401 critically ill patients
| Succinylcholine (n = 200) |
Rocuronium (n = 201) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Failed first intubation attempt | 32 (16%) | 36 (18%) |
| Anatomical difficult airway* | 10 (5%) | 12 (6%) |
| Difficult laryngoscopy§ | 7 (3.5%) | 5 (2.5%) |
| Oesophageal intubation | 2 (1%) | 2 (1%) |
| Equipment problems | 1 (0.5%) | 3 (1.5%) |
| Aspiration† | 4 (2%) | 3 (1.5%) |
| Need of a vasopressor after intubation¶ | 84 (42%) | 90 (45%) |
| Cardiac arrest | 6 (3%) | 4 (2%) |
| Ventricular fibrillation | 2 (1%) | 1 (0.5%) |
| Pulsless electrical activity | 4 (2%) | 3 (1.5%) |
| Asystole | 0 | 0 |
| Death | 0 | 0 |
* An anatomically difficult airway was defined as more than two attempts or a successful second attempt with the help of additional equipment (for example, a different blade) or a modified technique (for example, preforming a stylet).
§ Difficult laryngoscopy was defined as impaired vision of laryngeal structures due to non-anatomical reasons (for example, blood or secretion).
† Blood, gastric content, or foreign body visible below the vocal cords during laryngoscopy
¶ Need of vasopressor was defined as an intravenous bolus of a vasopressor or an increase in infusion rate of a running catecholamine infusion.