Gum elastic bougie, capnography and apnoeic oxygenation.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed the accuracy of using capnography with a modified, hollow gum elastic bougie in predicting tracheal intubation, and its effectiveness as a method of apnoeic oxygenation.


METHODS
Patients were randomly allocated to having the gum elastic bougie inserted, under anaesthesia, in the trachea or the oesophagus. End-tidal carbon dioxide measurements were made at 10 and 20 s. The position of the gum elastic bougie was correctly predicted in 89.2% of patients. We tested the apnoeic oxygenation on an anaesthetic simulator model, which is housed in the Scottish Anaesthesia Simulator Centre, Stirling, UK.


RESULTS
The time taken for the oxygen saturation to fall to 90% was significantly prolonged when the gum elastic bougie was used for apnoeic oxygenation.


CONCLUSIONS
The modification of the gum elastic bougie allows a more objective assessment of correct placement than the previous tactile method. The current design of bougie is unsuitable but can be modified.
Department of Anaesthesia, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK.
F A
FA
Millar
G L
GL
Hutchison
R
R
Glavin
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001049:Apnea / Q000378:metabolism; D019296:Capnography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*
D002245:Carbon Dioxide