Skip to airway content
Post-intubation rescue
High Airway Pressure After Intubation
High pressure is not a diagnosis. The key move is to classify resistance, compliance, equipment, tube, and patient-ventilator interaction.
high pressureventilatorobstructionbronchospasm
Clinical-use limit: Educational resource and cognitive-aid guide only; not a bedside order set or substitute for local protocol, medical direction, or clinical judgment.
Before intubation
- Know baseline lung physiology and have suction/bite block/RT ready.
During intubation
- Bag manually if unstable and assess resistance/compliance.
- Check tube kink/obstruction/biting, bronchospasm, pneumothorax, mainstem, dyssynchrony, and settings mismatch.
After intubation
- Treat the cause and reassess waveforms, plateau pressure, oxygenation, and hemodynamics.
Common pitfalls
- Increasing sedation without checking tube obstruction or pneumothorax.
- No waveform/ventilator assessment.