Medical

Cardiac arrest airway priorities

Before / During / After / Pitfalls

Before

• High-quality CPR/defibrillation/epinephrine priorities should not be displaced by airway fixation.
• Use BVM or SGA if it maintains oxygenation/ventilation with fewer interruptions.
• Decide whether ETI adds value now or after stabilization/ROSC.

During

• Minimize chest-compression interruptions for advanced airway attempts.
• Confirm with waveform EtCO₂ and clinical context; low EtCO₂ may reflect low perfusion.
• Avoid hyperventilation after advanced airway placement.

After

• After ROSC: oxygenation, ventilation, BP, temperature, ECG/cath/neuro pathways.
• Secure airway and reassess tube depth after movement.
• Debrief airway timing and CPR interruptions.

Pitfalls

• Repeated intubation attempts interrupting CPR.
• Hyperventilation during arrest.
• Treating low EtCO₂ as only a tube problem during low-flow states.