What's on this Page
What are the indications to intubate the trachea of a child?
- • Respiratory failure that is unlikely to be reversed quickly, especially if hypoxemia is present despite greater than 60% oxygen administration
- • Apnea, hypoventilation, or progressive respiratory exhaustion that requires ongoing mechanical ventilation
- • Need for airway protection for children who have upper airway obstruction or an inability to protect their airway from aspiration
- • Desire to decrease the work of breathing for patients in shock (under normal circumstances, work of breathing requires less than 5% of the total energy expenditure, but with respiratory distress it can demand up to 50%; in a shock state, energy can be better utilized for other essential body functions)
- • Therapeutic interventions, such as tracheal administration of medications and suctioning for pulmonary toilet (mechanical ventilation is also required)
Indications for Endotracheal Intubation
- 1. Progressive respiratory exhaustion—unlikely to reverse quickly
- 2. Apnea, hypoventilation that requires mechanical ventilation
- 3. Need for airway protection (upper airway obstruction, loss of protective airway reflexes)
- 4. Shock
- 5. Airway access for pulmonary toilet
