Inflating the endotracheal tube cuff with saline to confirm correct depth using bedside ultrasonography

Although bedside ultrasonography can accurately distinguish esophageal from tracheal intubation, it is not used to establish the correct depth of endotracheal tube insertion. As indirect sonographic markers of endotracheal tube insertion depth have proven unreliable, a method for visual verification...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Canadian journal of emergency medicine Vol. 17; no. 1; p. 94
Main Authors:	Tessaro, Mark O, Arroyo, Alexander C, Haines, Lawrence E, Dickman, Eitan
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	England 01-01-2015
Subjects:	Emergencies Humans Intubation, Intratracheal - methods Point-of-Care Testing Resuscitation - methods Trachea - diagnostic imaging Ultrasonography intubation
Online Access:	Get more information
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	Although bedside ultrasonography can accurately distinguish esophageal from tracheal intubation, it is not used to establish the correct depth of endotracheal tube insertion. As indirect sonographic markers of endotracheal tube insertion depth have proven unreliable, a method for visual verification of correct tube depth would be ideal. We describe the use of saline to inflate the endotracheal cuff to confirm correct endotracheal tube depth (at the level of the suprasternal notch) by bedside ultrasonography during resuscitation. This rapid technique holds promise during emergency intubation.
ISSN:	1481-8035
DOI:	10.2310/8000.2014.141296