• Muhammad Ashir Shafique, Abdul Haseeb, Bushra Asghar, Aashish Kumar, Eymaan Riaz Chaudhry, and Muhammad Saqlain Mustafa.
• Department of Medicine, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan.
• Am J Emerg Med. 2024 Apr 1; 78: 188195188-195.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the impact of establishing a pre-hospital definitive airway on mortality and morbidity compared with no prehospital airway in cases of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).BackgroundTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global health concern that is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Prehospital intubation (PHI) has been proposed as a potential life-saving intervention for patients with severe TBI to mitigate secondary insults, such as hypoxemia and hypercapnia. However, their impact on patient outcomes remains controversial.MethodsA systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to assess the effects of prehospital intubation versus no prehospital intubation on morbidity and mortality in patients with severe TBI, adhering to the PRISMA guidelines.Results24 studies, comprising 56,543 patients, indicated no significant difference in mortality between pre-hospital and In-hospital Intubation (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.65-1.23, p = 0.48), although substantial heterogeneity was noted. Morbidity analysis also showed no significant difference (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.43-1.63, p = 0.59). These findings underscore the need for cautious interpretation due to heterogeneity and the influence of specific studies on the results.ConclusionIn summary, an initial assessment did not reveal any apparent disparity in mortality rates between individuals who received prehospital intubation and those who did not. However, subsequent analyses and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) demonstrated that patients who underwent prehospital intubation had a reduced risk of death and morbidity. The dependence on biased observational studies and the need for further replicated RCTs to validate these findings are evident. Despite the intricacy of the matter, it is crucial to intervene during severe airway impairment.Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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