Introduction

Abstract

Mechanical ventilation is a procedure often performed in patients in the emergency department (ED) who present in respiratory distress. The indications of mechanical ventilation include airway protection, treatment of hypoxemic respiratory failure, treatment of hypercapnic respiratory failure, or treatment of a combined hypoxic and hypercapnic respiratory failure. On some occasions, patients are also intubated and placed on mechanical ventilation for emergent procedures in the ED, such as the traumatically injured and combative patient who needs emergent imaging. However, intubation and initiation of mechanical ventilation requires a great degree of vigilance, as committing to this therapy can affect the patient’s overall course.