title: Use of the endotracheal bougie introducer for difficult intubations.
abstract: A difficult to intubate patient occurs infrequently in the emergency department. The endotracheal tube introducer or gum elastic bougie is a device used by British anesthesiologists in difficult airways. The device is inexpensive, has few complications and is easy to use. Similar to the Seldinger technique for gaining access to a large central vein, the endotracheal tube introducer is used to assist in cannulating the trachea and acts like the wire in central vein access.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine/E19, The Cleveland Clinic Foundatin, OH 44195, USA. phelanm@ccf.org
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Phelan
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation*