At some time during one’s practice in anaesthesiology, one cannot help but notice certain obsessive–compulsive tendencies in our colleagues. Such traits are quickly revealed when you put them under pressure by asking them to do an unplanned emergency case and disrupt the cocoon that is their elective list. In contrast to having known and prepared for all of the patient’s problems, they are now compelled to deal with a relatively unknown and often sub-optimal situation. More likely than not, they will have to induce anaesthesia with rapid sequence induction (RSI). Whereas some may be thrilled, others are less impressed with the disorder introduced into their world. What is it about emergency cases that should be such a bother? In particular, can TIVA enthusiasts thrive in this environment? At the time of writing, the use of TIVA in emergency is indeed somewhat uncharted territory as very few studies have examined this area.