When a patient crashes after intubation, the airway is often blamed.
Sometimes the tube is in the wrong place.
Sometimes the ventilator has changed the physiology.
Post-intubation collapse should trigger a fast, structured differential.
First, confirm oxygenation and tube position. Esophageal intubation, right mainstem intubation, tube obstruction, mucus plugging, and equipment failure must be considered immediately.
Full post, key takeaways, references, and the rest of the Core Medical Education collection are available for WhiteBoard Medicine members.
Dynamic hyperinflation, auto-PEEP, obstructive lung disease, hypotension after intubation, and ventilator troubleshooting.
Study Guide TopicARDS diagnosis, lung-protective ventilation, driving pressure, VILI, and severe hypoxemia.
Mini CoursesStructured video chapters, study guides, practice questions, final assessments, and clinical summaries.
Study Guide TopicHeart failure, pulse pressure, ScvO2, pulmonary artery catheters, CVP, and hemodynamic reasoning.
Study Guide TopicVentilator modes, settings, waveforms, dyssynchrony, noninvasive support, and troubleshooting.
