A prospective, observational, cohort study of airway management of patients with COVID-19 by specialist tracheal intubation teams.

Purpose: Because of the anticipated surge in cases requiring intensive care unit admission, the high aerosol-generating risk of tracheal intubation, and the specific requirements in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients, a dedicated Mobile Endotracheal Rapid Intubation Team (MERIT) was formed to ensure that a highly skilled team would be deployed to manage the airways of this cohort of patients. Here, we report our intubation team experience and activity as well as patient outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: The MERIT members followed a protocolized early tracheal intubation model.