Medications for Rapid Sequence Endotracheal Intubation
In order to achieve a successful intubation, various classes of medications are needed to achieve specific pharmacologic effects. These effects include providing sedation, analgesia from pain, amnestic effects, anesthesia, anticholinergic effects to control secretions, and paralysis.
Intubation, when performed using the rapid sequence intubation (RSI) protocol, is typically discussed in several stages (ie, pretreatment, induction and paralysis, and post-intubation); each stage requires specific medications. The medication choices described below provide the specific effects that are essential to creating the optimal conditions for endotracheal intubation. For complete information, see Rapid Sequence Intubation.
The image below depicts an inserted endotracheal tube.
Diagram of an inserted endotracheal tube. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.