Historical sample · This article is not presented as new evidence this week.
Noninvasive Ventilation for Preoxygenation during Emergency Intubation
Summary
PREOXI randomized 1,301 critically ill adults to NIV or an oxygen mask before intubation. Hypoxemia (SpO2 <85%) occurred in 9.1% versus 18.5% (absolute difference -9.4 percentage points; 95% CI -13.2 to -5.6).
Why it matters
Supports choosing NIV for preoxygenation in suitable critically ill adults to reduce peri-intubation hypoxemia. This studied regimen does not establish a survival benefit.
Study at a glance
- Design
- Randomized trial
- Population
- Critically ill adults undergoing intubation in 24 US EDs and ICUs.
- Sample size
- 1301
- Intervention
- NIV preoxygenation
- Comparator
- Oxygen-mask preoxygenation
- Primary endpoint
- SpO2 <85% from induction through two minutes after intubation
Main findings
- Hypoxemia: 57/624 (9.1%) with NIV vs 118/637 (18.5%) with an oxygen mask; difference -9.4 percentage points (95% CI -13.2 to -5.6).
- Aspiration: 0.9% vs 1.4%; difference -0.4 percentage points (95% CI -1.6 to 0.7).
Limitations
Unblinded trial in US EDs and ICUs. Applicability depends on patient suitability for NIV; infrequent safety events do not establish equivalence.
Read the primary source
Full text: Open-access full text available.
Original sourcePMID: 38869091
Source retrieved Oct 26, 2026. Abstract-based summary; methods text also checked for design. Open-access full text available for further appraisal.
Corrections & review history
No corrections recorded. Human review: not yet human-reviewed.