Can J Emerg Med
The most recent articles from:
Can J Emerg Med
-
Etomidate is a sedative-hypnotic chemically unrelated to other induction agents. The pharmacological and safety profile of etomidate offers many advantages for induction during rapid sequence intubation (RSI) in the emergency department (ED). Its onset of action is within 5 to 15 seconds, and its duration of action is 5 to 15 minutes. ⋯ Etomidate may cause pain on injection, myoclonic movements on induction, hiccups, nausea and vomiting. Transient adrenal suppression has been reported, but not to a clinically significant degree, after single induction doses for ED RSI. Etomidate has been well studied in the ED and should be adopted for RSI in specific ED patient groups.