Table 1.

Indications for RSI

- Airway – loss of airway patency

- Breathing – inadequate ventilation, respiratory failure or hypoxia

- Circulation – improve oxygen delivery in hypovolaemia or allow haemorrhage control procedures

- Disability – neuroprotection particularly in traumatic brain injury, reduced Glasgow Coma Score, status epilepticus, post cardiac arrest protection

- Everything else – e.g. emergency surgery, humanitarian indications, temperature control (e.g. serotonin syndrome), to facilitate safe transfer.