Consider
- Pain/awareness, hypoxia, hypercarbia, inadequate sedation, sympathomimetics, seizure, withdrawal, or underlying disease.
Rescue pathway
Tachycardia / hypertension after intubation
Pain/awareness and inadequate sedation are common, but do not miss hypoxia/hypercarbia.
Clinical review / use limits
Authored by: Airway of the Month education team. Last reviewed: July 2026. Audience: EM learners, faculty, EMS, RT, simulation educators, and airway teams.
This is an educational cognitive-aid scaffold, not a bedside order set. Verify medications, ventilator changes, pediatric dosing, and procedures against local ED, ICU, anesthesia, pharmacy, RT, EMS, and pediatric policies.
Resources · Editorial policy · ACEP intubation policy · ARDS ventilation reference