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The article reports on the complications associated with airway management in the intensive care unit in a significant number of patients. Among the problems encountered were difficult intubations, esophageal intubations and pulmonary aspiration. Researchers found that there was a significant correlation between the presence of hypotension at the time of intubation and cardiac arrest.

The author stresses the importance of anesthesiologists in managing airway emergencies in the intensive care unit (ICU). The assessment of risk factors for difficult intubation (DI) and difficult ventilation and the high rate of complications of emergency endotracheal intubation (EEI) in critically ill patients are discussed. According to the author, studies have shown improved patient outcomes when clinicians trained in anesthesiology are the ones who perform emergent airway management.

The article focuses on an analysis of endotracheal intubation (EEI) significance in an intensive care unit (ICU) services along with risks over its usage. Topics discussed include assessment of different issues related to an intubation usage such as hypoxemia; consideration of ramped position for patient while usage of EEI services in an operating room (OR); and analysis of arterial oxygen saturation conditions with performance of EEI through direct laryngoscopy (DL).