Abstract

Background: Pulmonary aspiration can cause mortality and morbidity due to the entrance of gastric content into the respiratory tract. Rapid sequence induction (RSI) is a technique adopted for the avoidance of regurgitation, or aspiration while performing rapid tracheal intubation on patients during general anesthesia induction. This intervention includes several steps; nonetheless, RSI practice varies greatly.
Aim: To identify the practice of RSI of anesthesia performed by anesthetists.
Methods: Obtaining related articles for this review depended on searching through scientific databases using related terms. Among all the obtained articles and studies, original articles written in the English language with quantitative analysis and available for full-text were considered eligible and included.
Results: Seven studies met the criteria and were enrolled; two studies reported practicing RSI among pediatrics, one study involved pediatric and adult populations, two studies reported practicing RSI among adults and the remaining two studies did not specify the population. Three studies compared the practice between consultant anesthetists and trainees. One study focused on the adherence to RSI practice.
Conclusion: The practice of RSI exhibited wide variations between different nations, age groups of patients, anesthetists ‘experience, and positions.

Key words: RSI, Practice, Anesthetists, Adults, Pediatrics.