Bed-up-head-elevated Position versus Supine Sniffing Position in Patients Undergoing Rapid Sequence Intubation Using Direct Laryngoscopy in the Emergency Department – A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Introduction: The objective of this study is to compare bed-up-head-elevated (BUHE) position with supine sniffing position (SSP) in patients undergoing rapid sequence intubation (RSI) using direct laryngoscopy in the emergency department (ED). Methods: This single-center randomized controlled superiority trial was carried out from September 2021 to December 2022 in an academic emergency medicine department. The patients undergoing RSI in ED were grouped into two arms, namely BUHE position and SSP. The primary outcome was the time taken for endotracheal intubation. The secondary outcomes were the first-pass success rates and postintubation complications. Results: A total of 136 patients were enrolled in the study. Time for intubation in the BUHE group was no different from SSP (32.09 s [interquartile range (IQR): 23.30–42.68] vs. 33.40 [IQR: 27.53–45.90], P = 0.17). There was a modest reduction in intubation time when performed by trained experts (22.5 s [IQR: 17.7–25.3] versus 30.3 s [IQR: 21.3–33.2], P = 0.04). The first-attempt success rate in the BUHE position was also similar to the SSP position ([91.18% vs. 90.91%] P = 0.958). Postintubation complications were lesser in BUHE compared to the SSP group ([7.4% vs. 19.7%] P = 0.04). Conclusions: In our study, BUHE position did not improve time to intubation and first-pass success rate in ED patients compared to SSP. A modest decrease in intubation time was noted while experts used the BUHE position. The postintubation complications were slightly lesser in the BUHE group.

Keywords

• bed-up-head-elevated position
• direct laryngoscopy
• emergency department
• endotracheal intubation complication
• rapid sequence intubation
• supine sniffing position