Predicting Cardiovascular Collapse in Critically Ill Patients During Intubation Induction: A Prospective Observational Study

<i>Background and Objectives:</i> The study aimed to evaluate the predictive significance of Shock Indices and induction agents in predicting the risk of Peri-Intubation Cardiovascular Collapse (PIC) during intubation in the ICU. <i>Materials and Methods:</i> A total of 130 patients were analyzed in the study after dividing them into 2 groups based on the definition of PIC as Patients with PIC and Non-PIC Patients. PIC was defined as the detection of at least SBP < 65 mmHg measured at least once within 30 min after the intubation, SBP < 90 mmHg for 30 min, initiation of norepinephrine treatment, increasing the norepinephrine dose taken before the intubation, increasing SBP to >90 mmHg with >15 mL/kg crystalloid fluid infusion, or development of cardiac arrest. The relationship between Shock Index (SI), Diastolic Shock Index (DSI), Modified Shock Index (MSI), Age Shock Index (Age-SI), and induction agents (ketamine, propofol) and PIC was evaluated. <i>Results:</i> The PIC was detected in 62 patients (47.7%). Age-SI showed the highest predictive performance (AUC = 0.686, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Ketamine provided a protective effect (OR = 0.161, <i>p</i> = 0.003). Propofol (OR = 2.962, <i>p</i> = 0.048), age (OR = 1.065, <i>p</i> = 0.002), lactate (OR = 1.265, <i>p</i> = 0.047), and DSI (OR = 2.300, <i>p</i> = 0.037) were identified as independent risk factors. ICU mortality was significantly higher in the PIC group (74.2% vs. 20.6%, <i>p</i> < 0.001). <i>Conclusions:</i> Age, lactate, DSI, and Age-SI are valuable predictive parameters for PIC. Ketamine reduces the risk of PIC, while propofol increases it. These results support evidence-based risk assessment and induction agent selection in ICU intubation protocols.