see also: [[Airway]]
- maximise preoxygenation
- eg **ketamine** 1-2mg/kg as procedural sedation to facilitate BiPAP or face mask if high risk patient cannot tolerate pre-oxygenation
- ketamine best because airway reflexes and ventilation preserved
**indications**
- not predicted difficult airway
- hypoxic/unwell and uncooperative/intolerant of preoxygenation
- high risk of oxygen desaturation during apoenic period of intubation
**contraindications**
- predicted difficult airway -- consider awake technique instead
- paediatric airway
**Technique**
- [[ketamine]] 1-2mg IV slow push
- if SaO2 >95%:
- NRB and nasal cannula at 15L/m for each device
- if SaO2 <95%:
- BVM with PEEP valve at 5-15 cm H2O with oral/nasal airway adjunct or CPAP-NIV 100% fiO2 5-15cm H2O
- do for 3-10 min to reach adequate preoxygendation
**complications**
- vomiting → proceed to RSI
- not improving → proceed to RSI
- cannot have ketamine → consider remifentanil or droperidol 5-10mg IV