Etomidate vs. Ketamine for Rapid Sequence Induction: A Comparative Study

Introduction

Hello everyone, I am Dominique Savary, working in the emergency medicine department at the University Hospital of Angers. Today, I am here on Medscape to discuss a study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine in 2024. This study evaluates the use of etomidate in patients requiring rapid sequence induction compared to ketamine, focusing on its impact on in-hospital mortality.

Study Overview

This comprehensive study primarily examines in-hospital mortality, with secondary outcomes including the use of vasopressors and corticosteroids following the initiation of mechanical ventilation. Intubation is a frequent and high-risk procedure, and rapid sequence induction, often recommended with etomidate due to its quick action, can have significant consequences. The KETASED study previously highlighted an increased risk of adrenal insufficiency in septic patients intubated with etomidate.

Methodology

The new trial focuses on a retrospective cohort from billing databases in the United States, encompassing over 1,000 hospitals. This large-scale study involved more than 1,690,000 patients over 18 years old who underwent mechanical ventilation and were hospitalized. The cohorts compared were those receiving etomidate and those receiving ketamine, with over 22,300 patients in each group. Among these patients, 43.7% received etomidate, 5.9% received ketamine, and a significant group received propofol. The study compared etomidate versus ketamine-propofol, ensuring similar and comparable groups.

Results

The main analysis of this study indicates that etomidate administration was associated with a higher risk of in-hospital mortality compared to ketamine, with rates of 21.6% versus 18.7%, respectively, showing an absolute difference of 2.8%. However, the likelihood of receiving vasopressors at the beginning of the study and corticosteroids at 30 days was lower in the etomidate group compared to the ketamine group (52% versus 59%, respectively).

Limitations

Despite being a robust study, there are some limitations. Notably, there were missing data due to the retrospective nature of the study. Additionally, there is no long-term mortality data, as the study focused on 30-day in-hospital outcomes. There is also a risk of selection bias due to the lack of data specifying the indication for use and the implementation of rapid sequence induction.

Strengths

The study’s strengths include the large number of patients, the emulated nature of the study, and the particularly rigorous methodology. The results align with several recent meta-analyses on the subject, suggesting that this therapeutic approach may be reconsidered, with ketamine or even propofol potentially being preferred for rapid sequence induction.

Conclusion

I hope this study and its unique characteristics have piqued your interest. Stay tuned for more insights on Medscape France.

Additional Resources

– Emergencies and Resuscitation: 4 Studies to Remember in 2024
– Adrenaline: What is the Best Administration Method in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest?
– Acute Viral Laryngotracheitis in Children: How to Improve Functional Signs?
– Pre-Triage Before Arrival at the Emergency Room: The Japanese Experience

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The opinions expressed in this article or video are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of WebMD or Medscape.

Cite this article: Etomidate vs. Ketamine for Rapid Sequence Induction – Medscape – March 26, 2025.

Dominique Savary is an emergency physician and head of the emergency department at the University Hospital of Angers. He is a member of the French Society of Emergency Medicine and Samu Urgences de France. He has worked extensively on care networks and various topics such as coronary syndromes, pre-hospital cardiac arrest, and rescue in hazardous environments.

Conflict of Interest Statement: Dr. Savary has served as a speaker or member of a speaker’s bureau for Air Liquide Sante, Bayer, AstraZeneca, and Lilly. He has received income of $250 or more from Air Liquide Sante.

Access more videos from Dr. Savary.

Véronique Duquéroy, Medscape

Source: [Medscape](https://francais.medscape.com/voirarticle/3612612)