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RSI Procedures

RSI is a medical term for the procedure fully known as rapid sequence induction, which aims to aid patients with a compromised ability to breathe. RSI procedures should be performed by individuals with the proper training, and only used in many cases when medication has failed to aid the breathing of a patient.

  1. Use

    • An RSI procedure is often used to aid the breathing of patients who have suffered a head trauma and are suffering from respiratory exhaustion, according to South Carolina DHEC. Where medications have failed to increase the breathing ability of a patient, RSI procedures can be used to help patients who have suffered severe burns, or inhalation injuries. Other conditions where RSI may become an option include respiratory problems, such as COPD and asthma. When used to help a patient breathe, the process of RSI requires the sedation and placement of a patient into a state of muscle paralysis to complete the process of endotrachial intubation, where a breathing tube is inserted directly into the airway of a patient.

    Medication

    • The use of medications is required to sedate a patient, inducing unconsciousness. A sedation medication commonly used in RSI procedures is Etomidate, which is a hypnotic agent lasting for between 5 and 8 minutes, allowing the depression of the gag reflex within a patient. A paralysis-inducing medication is required in conjunction with the sedative succinylcoholine, and is usually administered to bring about an effect of short-term paralysis, for a period of between 5 and 10 minutes.

    Placement

    • The placement of the intubation tube must be checked and monitored to ensure the placement is correct. To ensure the RSI procedure has been successful, a physician monitors the sounds emitted from the lungs and the absence of epigastric sounds. When the RSI procedure is not successful, different airway devices are used.

    Monitoring

    • Throughout the RSI procedure, the vital signs of the patient are monitored, including the CO2 level of the endotrachial tube, which should be maintained around 38 to 42 mmHg. Where a prolonged period of paralysis is required, vecuronium medication is often used.

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