UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Penetrating neck injury and intubation

Category: Trauma

Keywords: rsi, neck injury, penetrating, airway (PubMed Search)

Posted: 11/4/2025 by Robert Flint, MD (Updated: 11/16/2025)
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This group looked at 88 patients intubated for penetrating neck injury and found 95% received neuromuscular blocking agents, 73% were intubated using a bougie, and 95% were intubated on first pass. 

The authors concluded; “Rapid sequence intubation with bougie use was an effective default approach to definitive airway management in ED patients with penetrating neck trauma.”

References

Rapid Sequence Intubation and Use of the Bougie for Penetrating Neck Injury

Lee, Daniel H. et al.

Journal of Emergency Medicine, Volume 0, Issue 0