Rapid Sequence Intubation by Paramedics in Out-of-hospital Non-traumatic Brain Pathologies

Non-traumatic brain pathologies (NTBP) are acquired brain injuries that form a substantial proportion of presentations to emergency departments and emergency services. Endotracheal intubation techniques such as Rapid Sequence Intubation (RSI) are frequently used to manage the airways of NTBP. This thesis shows that RSI is common in NTBP (and NTBP common in RSI) and there is no high quality evidence to support RSI in NTBP. The brain trauma evidence cannot be used to support NTBP RSI. Also, RSI might be a cause of poorer survival in strokes. A randomized controlled trial to support RSI use is urgently needed.