Pre- and Apnoeic Oxygenation for RSI in ED

Critically ill patients may need support for breathing by means of intubation, which is placement of a breathing tube into the windpipe. Rapid sequence intubation (RSI) is a method commonly used and is performed by administering medications to induce coma and muscle paralysis, followed by intubation to allow the ventilator to provide oxygen into the lungs. This procedure may be filled with potential complications. During RSI, the patient stops spontaneous breathing after medically induced muscle paralysis occurs. Adequate oxygenation before and during paralysis is crucial to increase the reserves and prolong the time that oxygen levels in the blood remain above 90%, called the safe apnoea period. If the oxygen reserves are insufficient, the blood oxygen level will drop and can lead to permanent brain damage or even death. This study aims to explore if delivering high-flow humidified oxygen at 60L/min via the nostrils would be superior to current methods of mask ventilation at 15L/min and nasal cannula at 15L/min, before and during paralysis respectively. If successful, this new method would allow for a longer safe apnoeic period and increase the chances for doctors to perform intubation successfully without the blood oxygen dropping below 90%.