We’ve had a few gruesome airways in patients with GI bleeds and bellies full of coffee ground emesis.
This is a top 10 list encompassing my approach to this difficult situation:
1. Empty the Stomach
Place a salem sump and suck out all of the stomach contents.
Varices are not a contraindication (see: Digest Dis 1973;18(12):1032 and Anesth Analg 1988;67:283)
Administer Metoclopramide 10 mg IVSS
2. Intubate the Patient with HOB at 45°
Semi-Fowler’s position will keep the gastric contents from moving up the esophagus
3. Preoxygenate like mad
You do not want to bag these patients, give yourself a preox cushion
4. Intubation Meds
Use a sedative that is BP stable, use reduced doses.
These patients NEED paralytics. You need to optimize first pass success. Paralytic agents actually increase the lower esophageal sphincter tone (Br J Anaesth 1984;56:37).
5. Gather your equipment to optimize first pass
Use fiberoptic laryngoscopy if you have it (e.g. Glidescope)
At the bedside, have a bougie, an LMA, a meconium aspirator (more below), and 2 suction set-ups
Wear eye protection!
6. If you need to bag after a failed attempt…
Bag gently and slowly (10 times a minute)
Consider placing an LMA if you need to bag.
7. If the patient vomits: Trendelenberg
This potentially keeps the emesis out of the lungs
8. Meconium Aspirator
If the normal suction is too slow, attach the meconium aspirator to your ET tube and the suction tube
9. No ABX for Aspiration
Aspiration in the initial phases is a chemical pneumonitis, not a bacterial pneumonia
See Marik’s article (NEJM 2001;344(9):665)
10. SIRS
Expect a sepsis-like syndrome from the aspiration. This folks may need pressors and tons of additional fluid
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
great summary scott. additional thought: although you want to not bag, if you must bag, you want to minimize the amount of air transmitted to the stomach. So abort your laryngoscopy attempts earlier so you’re more likely to bag slowly, gently, and, even better – through an LMA.
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Great checklist for the next UGIB intubation, Scott.
As I watched an oropharynx fill with coffee grounds a couple months ago, I was reminded of that really large bore perforated suction catheter on display at an ACEP SA past. Couldn’t find it just now, after doing a quick search online, but a larger bore catheter and tubing would go along well with the meconium aspirator.
I would add that this is a time that you want to have a blind technique ready like the Intubating LMA… although a bougie is technically a blind technique ILMA, would be better… (saved me the last time i saw a mouth full of blood despite 2 yankauers)
Taku,
Absolutely! I had LMA in number 6, but an ILMA would be even better if you have them.
Scott