Intubating the Patient with Increased BMI
Instructor
kaleb
Reviews
Course Overview
Airway management in the critically ill patient with obesity is about far more than simply placing an endotracheal tube. These patients present unique physiological challenges that increase the risk of rapid desaturation, haemodynamic instability and peri-intubation complications.
In this short course, we will explore a practical, evidence-based approach to safely managing the obese airway. You’ll learn how obesity affects respiratory physiology, how to optimise positioning and preoxygenation, when to consider Delayed Sequence Intubation (DSI), how to approach drug dosing, and strategies to reduce the risk of peri-intubation collapse.
Designed for emergency physicians, paramedics, critical care clinicians and retrieval teams, this course provides practical tips and clinical pearls that can be applied immediately in real-world practice.
By the end of this programme, you’ll have a structured framework for approaching the critically ill patient with obesity and the confidence to make safer airway decisions when it matters most.
What You'll Learn?
- Airway management in the critically ill patient with obesity is about far more than placing an endotracheal tube. This course is designed to give you practical, evidence-based strategies that you can apply immediately in the emergency department, ICU, retrieval environment or prehospital setting.
- By completing this course, you will:
- * Gain a deeper understanding of the unique physiological challenges associated with obesity and why these patients deteriorate so rapidly during airway management.
- * Learn practical techniques to optimise oxygenation and prolong safe apnoea time before intubation.
- * Develop a structured approach to recognising the physiologically difficult airway and identifying patients at high risk of peri-intubation complications.
- * Master evidence-based positioning strategies that improve respiratory mechanics and increase the likelihood of first-pass success.
- * Understand how and when to use non-invasive ventilation to maximise preoxygenation and reduce hypoxaemia.
- * Apply safe and appropriate drug dosing principles for patients with obesity, avoiding common medication errors.
- * Learn the principles of Delayed Sequence Intubation (DSI) and discover when this approach may be safer than traditional Rapid Sequence Intubation.
- * Build confidence in initiating lung-protective post-intubation ventilation strategies that maintain recruitment and minimise ventilator-induced lung injury.
- * Access practical cognitive aids, algorithms and checklists designed to support real-world clinical decision-making.
- * Improve your confidence and competence when managing one of the most challenging airway scenarios encountered in emergency and critical care medicine.
- This course has been developed for healthcare professionals involved in emergency airway management and critical care.
- It is ideally suited for:
- * Emergency Physicians
- * Emergency Medicine Registrars
- * Emergency Care Practitioners (ECPs)
- * Advanced Life Support Paramedics
- * Critical Care and Retrieval Clinicians
- * Anaesthetic Practitioners
- * Intensive Care Doctors
- * Intensive Care Nurses
- * Emergency Department Nurses
- * Prehospital Emergency Care Providers
- * Medical Officers responsible for emergency airway management
- Whether you work in the emergency department, on a helicopter, in the ICU or in the field, this course provides practical skills that can immediately enhance your clinical practice.
- No specialised equipment is required to complete this course.
- To get the most value from the programme, learners should have:
- * A basic understanding of airway management principles.
- * Previous exposure to emergency, anaesthetic or critical care practice (recommended but not essential).
- * Access to a computer, tablet or smartphone with an internet connection.
- * The ability to complete self-paced online learning modules and participate in embedded quizzes and assessments.
- The course is designed to be completed at your own pace, allowing you to learn whenever and wherever it suits you.
- When you enrol in this course, you’ll receive access to a comprehensive learning experience through EPIC Academy 2.0, including:
- * Professionally produced self-paced online lessons.
- * Practical, evidence-based teaching with direct clinical application.
- * Downloadable airway checklists and cognitive aids to support bedside practice.
- * A Delayed Sequence Intubation (DSI) quick-reference guide.
- * Clinical algorithms and structured decision-making frameworks.
- * Interactive case-based scenarios to reinforce learning.
- * Knowledge checks throughout the course to consolidate understanding.
- * A final assessment to demonstrate competency and reinforce key concepts.
- * A certificate of completion issued upon successful completion of the programme.
- CPD points as determined by the accreditor - still pending
