title: Case study involving suctioning of an electromyographic endotracheal tube.
abstract: The electromyographic endotracheal tube (EMG-ETT) is a relatively new tool used to measure integrity of the vocal cord structures during surgery. We describe a case in which an EMG-ETT was inserted for the operative period but not replaced with an ETT during the immediate postoperative period. Intensive care unit nurses had difficulty suctioning the EMG-ETT. The patient was not provided the pulmonary toilet necessary until the EMG-ETT was removed and replaced with a regular ETT. The purpose of this article is to make anesthesia providers aware that when mechanical ventilation is required during the postoperative period, the EMG-ETT should be removed and replaced with a regular ETT to facilitate pulmonary toilet.
authors.affiliation: Wyoming Valley Health Care System/University of Scranton School of Nurse Anesthesia, Wilkes-Barre, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Eileen Youshock
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Evanina
authors.forename: Jill L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hanisak
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D003399:Craniotomy; D004566:Electrodes; D004576:Electromyography / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000451:nursing; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000451:nursing; D008297:Male; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D013396:Suction / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000451:nursing; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000502:physiology