Endotracheal intubation in COVID-19 patients in Brazil: a nationwide survey - Critical Care Science (CCS)

To the Editor

Endotracheal intubation is a life-saving procedure in acute respiratory distress syndrome. However, complications such as hypoxia, hypotension and cardiovascular collapse may occur in almost 40% of the procedures in the intensive care unit (ICU).⁽⁾ Evidence regarding the best practice of endotracheal intubation in this context is scarce, and most data have been extrapolated from the operating room. In a survey published in Revista Brasileira de Terapia Intensiva before the COVID-19 pandemic, neuromuscular blockade was infrequently used in Brazilian ICUs.⁽⁾ During the COVID-19 pandemic, the fear of staff contamination may have modified usual practice and contributed to increasing the procedure risk.^(,) Therefore, in this study, we sought to survey ICU physicians about their practices during airway management in COVID-19 patients. Additionally, we aimed to assess whether the pandemic changed physicians’ strategies regarding the use of neuromuscular blockade and sedation.

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