Before intubation
- Name hypotension risk during timeout; prepare fluids/blood/pressors as appropriate.
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Post-intubation rescue
Hypotension After Intubation
Post-intubation hypotension is often physiology plus medications plus positive pressure. Treat it as an airway-adjacent shock problem.
hypotensionshockpost-intubationpressor
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.
During intubation
- Reassess MAP, EtCO2, rhythm, ventilator pressures, sedation doses, and perfusion.
- Consider tension pneumothorax, auto-PEEP, RV failure, preload loss, and medication effect.
After intubation
- Treat cause, adjust ventilator/sedation, and continue shock pathway.
Common pitfalls
- Only giving fluids when obstructive physiology or tension is the problem.
- Ignoring auto-PEEP or RV failure.