Preoxygenation differs from apneic oxygenation. While noninvasive ventilation is the preferred method for preoxygenation of critically ill hypoxemic patients, high-flow nasal oxygen may be used for apneic oxygenation to limit the occurrence of desaturation.

In patients at high risk of desaturation, without high risk of aspiration, mask ventilation during apnea should be considered.

Use of videolaryngoscopy in critically ill patients may help to increase first-attempt intubation success, in the hands of trained operators.

Careful hemodynamic management is essential, with the aim to decrease hypotension during the intubation procedure and related cardiac arrest during intubation.