Accuracy of a new body length-based formula for predicting tracheal tube size in Chinese children.
BACKGROUND
Variations in body weight and length (height) in children in the same age group have increased. Traditional age-based formulas often fail to predict the correct endotracheal tube (ETT) size. In our previous study, we devised a new length-based formula as follows: ETT internal diameter (ID) (mm) = 2 + (body length in cm/30). The current study was undertaken to assess the accuracy of this formula in Chinese children.


METHODS
The ETT size was selected according to this length-based formula for 336 children who required tracheal intubation during general anesthesia. Incidences of tube change were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test for differences in accuracy between age groups and body length groups.


RESULTS
The length-based formula predicted a suitable ETT size in 277 (82.4%) of 336 subjects. There were 59 (17.6%) reintubations. Only 5 (1.49%) patients needed two tube changes when the correct ETT size was 1 mm larger or smaller than predicted. There were no statistically significant differences between age groups or length groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The length-based formula ID (mm) = 2 + body length in cm/30 has high accuracy in predicting the appropriate ETT size in Chinese children.
Shih
Ming-Hung
MH
Department of Anesthesiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taoyuan, Taiwan ROC.
Chung
Chin-Yang
CY
Su
Bai-Chuan
BC
Hung
Chao-Tsen
CT
Wong
Shu-Yam
SY
Wong
Teresa Kit-Man
TK
D044466:Asian People; D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male