title: Use of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags in bedside monitoring of endotracheal tube position.
abstract: Improper positioning of the endotracheal tube during intubation poses a serious health risk to patients. In one prospective study of 219 critically ill patients, 14% required endotracheal tube repositioning after intubation [Brunel et al. Chest 1989; 96: 1043-1045] While a variety of techniques are used to confirm proper tube placement, a chest X-ray is usually employed for definitive verification. Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, in which an RFID reader emits and receives a signal from an RFID tag, may be useful in evaluating endotracheal tube position. RFID technology has already been approved for use in humans as a safe and effective tool in a variety of applications. The use of handheld RFID detectors and RFID tag-labeled endotracheal tubes could allow for easy and accurate bedside monitoring of endotracheal tube position, once initial proper placement is confirmed.
authors.affiliation: Health Beacons, Inc., P.O. Box 832, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067, USA. jjreicher@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reicher
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reicher
authors.forename: Murray
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reicher
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods*; D011846:Radio Waves; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000379:methods; D014132:Trachea / Q000473:pathology