A comparative study of endotracheal tube positioning methods in children: safety from neck movement.
BACKGROUND
The unexpected displacement of the endotracheal tube (ETT) as a result of neck movements can cause endobronchial intubation and accidental extubation. The ETT is subject to movement even after its proper placement has been confirmed either clinically or radiographically.


METHODS
One-hundred-seven children (2-8 yr) were divided randomly into three groups. In Group I, the ETT was entered into the main bronchus and withdrawn until equal sounds in both lung were heard, and then withdrawn 2 cm. In Group II, the ETT position was determined by placing the prescribed marks on the ETT at the level of the vocal cords, and in Group III, by palpating the ETT tip at the suprasternal notch. In all groups, the distance between the ETT tip and the carina was measured using a fiberoptic bronchoscope. The relative ETT tip position along the trachea (carina; 0%, vocal cords; 100%) was assessed in each position during neck movement.


RESULTS
The relative position of the ETT with the patient in the neutral position in Groups I, II, and III was 21.4% +/- 6.7%, 46.5% +/- 13.0%, and 43.4% +/- 11.1%, respectively. In Group I, the relative ETT position after flexion was 9.5% +/- 10.3%, and endobronchial intubation was observed in five children (14.3%). There was no extubation or endobronchial intubation in the other two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Positioning the ETT by auscultation places the ETT more deeply than the midtrachea, which can increase the risk of endobronchial intubation during neck flexion.
Yoo
Seung-Yeon
SY
Department of Anesthesiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam City, Korea. anesing1@snu.ac.kr
Kim
Jin-Hee
JH
Han
Sung-Hee
SH
Oh
Ah-Young
AY
D000768:Anesthesia, General; D001314:Auscultation; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods; D015505:Chest Tubes; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D019416:Head Movements; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D010173:Palpation; D011187:Posture; D012135:Respiratory Sounds; D014132:Trachea / Q000033:anatomy & histology