Intubation Course

Lesson 1 • Pediatric Airway Differences

Contrasts pediatric airway anatomy with adult anatomy across key dimensions. Prepares clinicians to adjust technique and equipment for younger patients.

Lesson 2 • Upper Airway Structures Overview

Identifies nasal cavity, oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx as intubation landmarks. Establishes the anatomical baseline required for all subsequent procedural learning.

Lesson 3 • Lower Airway and Tracheal Anatomy

Examines tracheal structure, carina, and bronchial branching relevant to tube placement depth. Prevents endobronchial intubation through anatomical awareness.

Lesson 1 • Ventilation Physiology During Intubation

Examines tidal volume, respiratory rate, and pressure targets relevant to bag-mask and post-intubation ventilation. Prevents barotrauma and hemodynamic compromise.

Lesson 2 • Apneic Oxygenation Techniques

Describes passive oxygen delivery during laryngoscopy to extend safe apnea time. Bridges pre-oxygenation to successful tube placement in challenging cases.

Lesson 3 • Pre-oxygenation Strategies

Covers mask techniques, positioning, and flow rates to maximize oxygen reserve before intubation. Directly reduces hypoxic risk during the apneic period.

Lesson 1 • Neuromuscular Blocking Agents

Distinguishes depolarizing from non-depolarizing agents by mechanism, onset, and reversal. Guides selection for rapid sequence intubation and routine intubation.

Lesson 2 • Adjunct and Pretreatment Medications

Reviews lidocaine, fentanyl, and atropine as pretreatment agents to blunt adverse intubation responses. Contextualizes their evidence base and appropriate indications.

Lesson 3 • Induction Agents

Covers mechanism, dosing, onset, and hemodynamic profile of common induction agents. Enables agent selection based on patient physiology and clinical context.

Lesson 1 • Bag-Mask Ventilation Equipment

Reviews mask sizes, self-inflating bag assembly, and oxygen reservoir function. Bag-mask ventilation is the primary rescue technique when intubation fails.

Lesson 2 • Endotracheal Tube Selection

Covers tube types, sizes, cuff designs, and stylet use for adult and pediatric patients. Correct tube selection prevents airway trauma and ensures effective ventilation.

Lesson 3 • Suction and Rescue Equipment

Covers suction catheter types, suction unit setup, and rescue airway devices. Prepares the clinician to manage secretions and failed intubation immediately.

Lesson 4 • Laryngoscope Types and Blades

Compares direct laryngoscope handle designs, blade types, and their clinical applications. Establishes equipment literacy as the foundation for procedural competence.

Lesson 1 • Laryngoscope Insertion and Advancement

Describes blade insertion along the right side of the mouth, tongue displacement, and advancement to the vallecula or epiglottis. Proper technique prevents dental and soft tissue injury.

Lesson 2 • Tube Placement Confirmation

Applies a multi-modal confirmation protocol using capnography, auscultation, and chest rise. Confirmation before securing the tube is a non-negotiable safety step.

Lesson 3 • Patient Positioning for Laryngoscopy

Establishes sniffing position, ramped positioning, and head elevation as prerequisites for optimal laryngeal view. Correct positioning reduces force required and improves visualization.

Lesson 4 • Laryngeal View Grading and Optimization

Applies the Cormack-Lehane grading system to classify laryngeal views and select optimization maneuvers. Systematic view optimization reduces failed intubation attempts.

Lesson 1 • Post-RSI Management

Covers immediate post-intubation steps including ventilator initiation, sedation, and hemodynamic monitoring. Prevents post-intubation deterioration through systematic management.

Lesson 2 • Drug Sequencing and Timing in RSI

Specifies the order and timing of induction agent and neuromuscular blocker administration for optimal intubating conditions. Timing errors reduce drug efficacy and increase risk.

Lesson 3 • RSI Indications and Contraindications

Defines clinical scenarios requiring RSI and identifies relative contraindications such as predicted difficult airway. Correct patient selection prevents avoidable complications.

Lesson 4 • Cricoid Pressure: Evidence and Technique

Reviews the rationale, correct application, and current evidence for and against cricoid pressure during RSI. Enables evidence-informed decisions about its use in practice.

Lesson 1 • Supraglottic Airway Devices

Covers insertion technique, ventilation, and intubation through supraglottic airway devices as rescue tools. Supraglottic airways are a critical bridge in the failed intubation algorithm.

Lesson 2 • Intubating Stylets and Bougies

Demonstrates bougie-assisted intubation technique and the use of intubating stylets for difficult airways. These adjuncts improve first-pass success when laryngeal view is limited.

Lesson 3 • Video Laryngoscopy Technique

Describes midline insertion, screen-guided advancement, and tube delivery specific to video laryngoscopy. Technique differs from direct laryngoscopy and requires deliberate practice.

Lesson 4 • Video Laryngoscope Principles and Types

Explains the optical principles of video laryngoscopy and compares hyperangulated versus standard geometry blades. Device selection depends on airway anatomy and clinical context.

Lesson 1 • Difficult Airway Algorithm Overview

Presents the major difficult airway algorithm framework and its decision nodes for anticipated and unanticipated difficulty. Algorithm familiarity enables rapid, calm decision-making under pressure.

Lesson 2 • Post-Difficult Airway Debriefing

Structures team debriefing after a difficult airway event to identify system failures and improve future performance. Debriefing converts adverse events into learning opportunities.

Lesson 3 • Failed Intubation Response

Defines failed intubation and outlines the immediate response sequence including oxygenation rescue and escalation. Timely recognition and response prevent progression to cardiac arrest.

Lesson 4 • Cannot Intubate Cannot Oxygenate

Addresses the cannot-intubate-cannot-oxygenate emergency requiring immediate surgical airway access. Rapid execution of cricothyrotomy is a life-saving skill in this scenario.