RecruitingObservational

Service evaluation of cross-specialty UK rapid sequence intubation events

This study is a project called "SECURE" that aims to understand how a vital emergency procedure, Rapid Sequence Intubation (RSI), is currently done in UK hospitals. RSI is when doctors quickly place a breathing tube into a patient's windpipe to help them breathe, often during emergencies or urgent surgery. The study wants to find out what equipment and training hospitals have, how doctors perform the procedure in real life, and how they would handle different situations. By collecting this information, researchers hope to identify the best ways to perform RSI, improve training, and ultimately make the procedure safer and more effective for patients across the UK.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust

Enrolment target

10,000

Start

01 Mar 2026

Estimated completion

30 Jun 2026

Rapid sequence intubation (RSI)

What is this study about?

When someone is very ill or needs urgent surgery, doctors sometimes need to help them breathe by placing a tube into their windpipe. This important procedure is called rapid sequence intubation, or RSI. It's done quickly to make sure oxygen gets to the lungs and to reduce the risk of stomach contents going into the lungs, which can cause serious problems like chest infections.

Now, while RSI has been around for a long time, the way it's done has changed over the years. Also, different doctors and hospitals might have slightly different approaches. This study wants to get a clear picture of exactly how RSI is being performed in hospitals across the UK today. Think of it like taking a snapshot to see all the different ways this life-saving procedure is carried out.

The main goal is to understand what works well, what equipment hospitals have, and what training doctors receive. By gathering all this information, the study hopes to identify the safest and most effective ways to perform RSI, improve teaching for medical staff, and eventually help create clearer guidelines so all patients receive the best possible care during this crucial time.

Key takeaways

This study looks at how a vital emergency breathing procedure (RSI) is performed in UK hospitals.
Its goal is to improve safety and effectiveness of RSI for patients.
No patients are directly involved in the study; it collects information from medical teams.
Only anonymous data is used, ensuring patient privacy.
Findings will help create better training and guidelines for doctors.

Who may be eligible?

This study isn't about specific patients joining directly, as it's looking at how medical teams perform the procedure, not testing new treatments on patients. Therefore, patients won't be asked to participate or change their care.

The study focuses on information from hospitals within the NHS in the UK. This means it will only look at RSI procedures carried out on adults aged 18 or older. The procedures must be performed by specialist teams, such as those from anaesthetics, emergency medicine, or critical care departments.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Is the procedure being performed in a UK NHS hospital?
Is the patient 18 years old or older?
Is the procedure being performed by an anaesthetics, emergency medicine, or critical care team?
Is the patient *not* having the procedure during a cardiac arrest?
Does the patient *not* have a breathing tube (tracheostomy) already in place?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

This study doesn't involve patients directly taking part or changing their medical care. Instead, it's about collecting information on how Rapid Sequence Intubation (RSI) is currently performed. The study will do this in three main ways:

1. **Looking at Hospital Resources:** The study will survey intensive care units, emergency departments, and operating theatres to see what equipment and safety rules they have for RSI, and what training they offer to their staff. 2. **Observing Real-Life Procedures:** Medical professionals will report how and why they perform RSI in actual emergency situations. 3. **Asking Doctors for Their Opinions:** Doctors of various levels and specialties will be asked how they would handle different RSI situations using made-up patient scenarios.

Potential risks and benefits

Patients who undergo Rapid Sequence Intubation are not directly involved in this study, so there are no direct risks or benefits to them from participating. This study simply collects anonymous information about how the procedure is performed. The aim is to make RSI safer and more effective for future patients by improving training and guidelines for medical professionals across the UK. There is no impact on patient care and no anticipated risks involved. The results could lead to better future care for patients needing this procedure.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
City only
Bristol, England

Common questions

What is Rapid Sequence Intubation (RSI)?

It's an emergency procedure where doctors quickly place a breathing tube into a patient's windpipe to help them breathe, often when they are very sick.

Will I be asked to do anything for this study?

No, patients are not directly involved. This study gathers information from doctors and hospitals about how they perform the procedure, not from patients themselves.

Will my personal health information be used?

No, only anonymous, non-identifiable information about the procedure is collected. Your personal details will not be used.

Why is this study important?

It helps us understand current practices, identify the safest methods, and improve training for doctors, benefitting all patients who might need this emergency procedure in the future.

When and where is this study happening?

It's running from March 2026 to March 2027 and is based out of University Hospitals Bristol and Weston, UK.

How to find out more

Jonathan Barnes

jonathan.barnes@uhbw.nhs.uk +44 0117 923 0000 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.