Only about 84% of emergency intubations are successful on the first try. And missing the first attempt is not a minor setback: additional tries significantly increase the risk of complications. In the U.S., it is estimated that more than 1 million intubation cases are associated with health complications annually, which translates into an economic burden of US $5.9 billion per year.
Emergency intubations are much more complicated and risky than performing elective, pre-planned endotracheal intubations. The patient’s health instability, their full stomach, and the limited time available to execute the procedure are some of the contributing factors behind this increased risk.
It is widely accepted in the medical community that only about 84% of emergency intubations are successful on the first try. And missing the first attempt is not a minor setback: additional tries significantly increase the risk of complications, such as hypoxemia, aspiration, hypotension, and even cardiac arrest. In addition, the physiological stress of repeated attempts can destabilize already critical patients, further deteriorating their health condition and even leading to death.
The cost of missing the first intubation attempt
Based on data reported in the scientific literature and experts’ opinions, Schilling and Hollenbeak (2019) estimated that over one million intubation cases are associated with health complications annually in the United States. And these health complications are not just a patient safety issue; they also carry a significant economic burden to hospitals and clinics worldwide. According to the same authors, these complications cost US $5.9 billion per year in the United States alone. As you can see, failed intubations are not an uncommon problem.
They are a widespread, recurring issue embedded in everyday emergency clinical practice.
Improving intubation success and patient safety
The success of intubation procedures is not solely a matter of individual expertise. Yes, training matters and experience matters too. But when emergency clinicians are working under suboptimal conditions, with limited time and incomplete information, complexity and risks are naturally higher.
That’s why we created the Airway Shield™ — a medical device that:
- Increases intubation success by guiding the endotracheal tube towards the vocal cords;
- Protects the patient’s teeth and mucosa, the most frequent intubation-related injuries.
Watch this video to see how the Airway ShieldTM works.
Interested in investing in Airway Shield?
Get in touch with our team at [email protected]
References
- Schilling, A.L & Hollenbeak, C.S. (2019). Estimating the Economic and Absolute Number of Complications Associated with Emergency Intubations Performed Outside the Operating Room; A Methodology for Estimating the Burden in the United States. Available at: https://www.ttcmed.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Burden-of-first-pass-intubation_White-paper.pdf