Clinical-use limit: Educational resource and cognitive-aid guide only; not a bedside order set or substitute for local protocol, medical direction, or clinical judgment.
Case management cards Tap each card to reveal the focused answer. The four cards match the airway workflow: before, during, after, and pitfalls.
Before intubation Preparation, physiology, positioning, equipment, and Plan B. Tap to reveal Before intubation Estimate the patient’s pre-intubation respiratory compensation and anticipate very high minute ventilation demand. Resuscitate potassium, volume, shock, and reversible causes per local DKA/critical-care pathways before intubation if time allows. Plan post-intubation RR/VT strategy before medications are pushed. During intubation Execution priorities during the attempt. Tap to reveal During intubation Minimize apnea time and avoid delayed ventilation after paralysis. Use skilled first-pass technique and prepare for peri-intubation hypotension. Confirm with waveform EtCO₂ but interpret EtCO₂ in context of severe metabolic acidosis. After intubation Post-tube reassessment, ventilation, sedation, and handoff. Tap to reveal After intubation Immediately set minute ventilation intentionally and reassess pH/CO₂ with blood gas. Continue DKA resuscitation and ICU pathway. Monitor for hypotension, electrolyte shifts, cerebral edema risk in peds, and ventilator-induced harm. Common pitfalls Predictable traps to avoid. Tap to reveal Common pitfalls Routine low minute ventilation after intubation. Long apnea while the patient is profoundly acidemic. Focusing on tube placement while DKA resuscitation stalls.