Examination of patterns in intubation by an emergency airway team at a large academic center: Higher frequency during daytime hours

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Emergency airway management represents an event with high acuity but unpredictable frequency and therefore presents a challenge for adequate staffing. Given circadian and seasonal variations, we hypothesized that the majority of emergency airway events happen after normal working hours and during the winter months. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 1,482 intubations by an emergency airway team over a 3-y period was performed. The data were obtained from hospitalized patients who required emergency airway management in a large academic medical center. A database of emergency airway consultations was analyzed for intubation time and date information, as well as geographic location within the hospital. RESULTS: A greater percentage of emergency intubations occurred during day shift hours (7 AM to 7 PM) compared with night shift hours, 57% and 43%, respectively (P