Premedication for neonatal intubation

The incidence of complications was recorded for 269 consecutive neonatal endotracheal intubations after instituting a routine policy of premedication. Two hundred and fifty-three of the intubations were premedicated with a combination of atropine, fentanyl and succinylcholine, 194 were without incident, 28 required two attempts, 22 required more than two attempts, and 9 required a second attempt with a smaller endotracheal tube. All infants were successfully intubated. We conclude that a policy of routine neonatal premedication for intubation is safe, feasible, and humane.