Predicting proper endotracheal tube placement in underexposed radiographs: tangent line of the aortic arch.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated an indirect radiographic means of predicting proper endotracheal tube placement on underexposed portable chest radiographs.


CONCLUSIONS
When an endotracheal tube is 3.4-5.0 cm above the tangent line of the aortic arch, it is in proper position 95% of the time.
Pappas
J N
JN
Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Goodman
P C
PC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003422:Critical Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013679:Technology, Radiologic