Oxygen Supplement During Endotracheal Intubation of the Infant
Endotracheal intubation is indicated for maintaining an efficient airway, for preventing aspiration and permitting pulmonary toilet, and for prolonged administration of mechanical ventilation or general anesthesia for many types of operations.1,2 Laryngoscopy and intubation may result in injury to the lips, gums, tongue, nasal passage, larynx, or trachea. Additional complications include mediastinal and subcutaneous emphysema and pneumothorax.3 These complications can be minimized if hypoxia can be prevented and laryngoscopy is performed in an unhurried manner. Patients who require a high ambient oxygen concentration in order to maintain an adequate PO2 usually react rapidly to an interruption of the oxygen supply by developing bradycardia and hypoxia. See Image in the PDFfile