Fibre-optic assessment of tracheal tube position. A comparison of tracheal tube position as estimated by fibre-optic bronchoscopy and by chest X-ray.
The distance between the tip of a tracheal tube and the carina was measured in twenty five patients who required tracheal intubation and artificial ventilation of the lungs. Two methods of evaluation of this distance--limited-optic bronchoscopy and chest X-ray--were compared. There was no significant difference between the distance measured by either method. The advantages of checking tracheal tube placement by fibre-optic bronchoscopy are discussed.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D003422:Critical Care; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D013997:Time Factors; D014132:Trachea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging