Controversies Concerning Emergency Tracheal Intubation in Patients with COVID-19

Should we still worry about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in 2023? Mandatory restrictions of many activities due to COVID-19 have been largely relaxed across the country. We’ve dealt with COVID-19, haven’t we? However, concerning levels of COVID-19 infections have still been reported in many metropolitan areas. China’s Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council reported that from December 8, 2022 to January 12, 2023, 59,938 hospital deaths related to COVID-19 occurred in healthcare facilities across the country, among whom 5503 were due to respiratory failure caused by COVID-19. Early and appropriate management with invasive mechanical ventilation is crucial in critically ill patients with COVID-19. Tracheal intubation still plays an important role in the successful treatment of these patients. We updated the pertinent information and new understanding on several controversial topics regarding emergency tracheal intubation in patients with COVID-19.