A prospective observational study comparing outcomes before and after the introduction of an intubation protocol during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective Orotracheal intubation is a life-saving procedure commonly performed in the Intensive Care unit and Emergency Department as a part of emergency airway management. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, our center undertook a prospective observational study to characterize emergency intubation performed in the emergency department and critical care settings at Manitoba’s largest tertiary hospital. During this study, a natural experiment emerged when a standardized “COVID-Protected Rapid Sequence Intubation Protocol” was implemented in response to the pandemic. The resultant study aimed to answer the question; in adult ED patients undergoing emergent intubation by EM and CCM teams, does the use of a “COVID-Protected Rapid Sequence Intubation Protocol” impact first-pass success or other intubation-related outcomes? Methods A single-center prospective quasi-experimental before and after study was conducted. Data were prospectively collected on consecutive emergent intubations. The primary outcome was the difference in first-pass success rates. Secondary outcomes included best Modified Cormack–Lehane view, hypoxemia, hypotension, esophageal intubation, cannot intubate cannot oxygenate scenarios, CPR post intubation, vasopressors required post intubation, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) mortality, ICU length of stay (LOS), and mechanical ventilation days. Results Data were collected on 630 patients, 416 in the pre-protocol period and 214 in the post-protocol period. First-pass success rates in the pre-protocol period were found to be 73.1% ( n = 304). Following the introduction of the protocol, first-pass success rates increased to 82.2% ( n = 176, p = 0.0105). There was a statistically significant difference in Modified Cormack–Lehane view favoring the protocol ( p = 0.0191). Esophageal intubation rates were found to be 5.1% pre-protocol introduction versus 0.5% following the introduction of the protocol ( p = 0.0172). Conclusion A “COVID-Protected Protocol” implemented by Emergency Medicine and Critical Care teams in response to the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increased first-pass success rates and decreases in adverse events.