Which vital sign change would indicate a potential serious complication following intubation?

Hypotension following intubation can be a significant indicator of serious complications. This drop in blood pressure may suggest several underlying issues, such as hypovolemia, excessive sedation, or an adverse reaction to medications administered during the intubation process. Additionally, hypotension could signal issues related to ventilation, such as increased intrathoracic pressure that affects hemodynamics or cardiovascular function, particularly if there is poor ventilation or patient-ventilator dysynchrony. As such, monitoring for hypotension immediately after intubation is crucial, as it can prompt further assessment and intervention to stabilize the patient.

In contrast, changes like hypertension, bradycardia, or fever might also occur after intubation but do not signal the same level of immediate concern regarding the complication directly related to the intubation process. Hypertension may occur due to stress response, bradycardia could indicate vagal responses, and fever could arise due to a variety of reasons not directly associated with an acute complication following the procedure. Therefore, hypotension is the more critical vital sign to watch for in the context of potential immediate complications following intubation.