Efficacy of ketamine versus etomidate for rapid sequence intubation, among critically ill patients in terms of mortality and success rate: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Description
When a patient is crashing and every second counts, airway decisions can mean life or death. For decades, clinicians have fiercely debated: should you reach for etomidate, the hemodynamic workhorse, or ketamine, the pressure-friendly multitasker?
In this episode, we dive deep into a new systematic review and meta-analysis that just might end the controversy once and for all. The surprising truth? Survival doesn’t change no matter which drug you choose.
We’ll unpack:
Why this finding is a game-changer for emergency physicians, intensivists, and resuscitationists.
What the evidence really says about mortality, intubation success, and cardiac arrest risk.
The nuances of post-induction hypotension and why it might not be the dealbreaker it once seemed.
How this study frees you to make airway decisions based on patient context and clinical judgment—not dogma.
Whether you’re on the front lines of the ED, running codes in the ICU, or training the next generation of airway masters, this episode will leave you with clarity, confidence, and a renewed perspective on one of emergency medicine’s longest-running debates.
United States
