A quality improvement initiative to increase the safety of pediatric emergency airway management

Abstract

Background: Emergency airway management is commonly associated with life-threatening hypoxia and hypotension which may be preventable. Aims: The aim of this quality improvement study was to reduce the frequency of intubation-related hypoxia and hypotension. Methods: This prospective quality improvement study was conducted over 4 years in the Emergency Department of The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. A preintervention cohort highlighted safety gaps and was used to design study interventions, including an emergency airway algorithm, standardized airway equipment, a preintubation checklist and equipment template, endtidal carbon dioxide monitoring, postintubation team debriefi..