E82 - Ketamine v Etomidate for RSI: A Bayesian Meta-Analysis

The EMS Lighthouse Project

The debate about which drug to use for sedation before RSI will... not… die. Advocates for both ketamine and etomidate approach the argument with near-religious zeal. There have been studies. We’ve even covered some here. We need a systematic review and meta-analysis, preferably using an analysis that recognizes this likely isn’t a black-and-white question. That’s where our friend Bayes comes in. Dr. Jarvis is joined by Drs Remle Crowe and CJ Winkler to discuss this paper and what in the hell Bayesian analysis actually is. We get some nice book recommendations in the process. Plus, we check in with ChatGPT for answers.

Oh, BTW... don't take zoological advice from Dr. Winkler. Contrary to his thoughts, Giraffe's do NOT, in fact, have larger hearts than elephants.

Citations:
1. Koroki T, Kotani Y, Yaguchi T, Shibata T, Fujii M, Fresilli S, Tonai M, Karumai T, Lee TC, Landoni G, Hayashi Y. Ketamine versus etomidate as an induction agent for tracheal intubation in critically ill adults: a Bayesian meta-analysis. Crit Care. 2024 Feb 17;28(1):48. doi: 10.1186/s13054-024-04831-4. PMID: 38368326; PMCID: PMC10874027.
2. Russotto V, Myatra SN, Laffey JG, et al. Intubation Practices and Adverse Peri-intubation Events in Critically Ill Patients From 29 Countries. JAMA. 2021;325(12):1164-1172.

Bonus book recommendations
3. Heller J. Catch-22. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster; 1961.
4. McGrayne SB. The Theory That Would Not Die. How Bayes’ Rule Cracked The Enigma Code, Hunted Down Russian Submarines & Emerged Triumphant From Two Centuries of Controversy. Yale University Press; 2011.
5. Salsburg D. The Lady Tasting Tea: How Statistics Revolutionized Science In The Twentieth Century. Henry Holt & Company; 2001.