title: Inflating the endotracheal tube cuff with saline to confirm correct depth using bedside ultrasonography.
abstract: Although bedside ultrasonography can accurately distinguish esophageal from tracheal intubation, it is not used to establish the correct depth of endotracheal tube insertion. As indirect sonographic markers of endotracheal tube insertion depth have proven unreliable, a method for visual verification of correct tube depth would be ideal. We describe the use of saline to inflate the endotracheal cuff to confirm correct endotracheal tube depth (at the level of the suprasternal notch) by bedside ultrasonography during resuscitation. This rapid technique holds promise during emergency intubation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Ultrasound,Department of Emergency Medicine,Maimonides Medical Center,Brooklyn,NY.
authors.forename: Mark O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Tessaro
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Ultrasound,Department of Emergency Medicine,Maimonides Medical Center,Brooklyn,NY.
authors.forename: Alexander C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Arroyo
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Ultrasound,Department of Emergency Medicine,Maimonides Medical Center,Brooklyn,NY.
authors.forename: Lawrence E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Haines
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Ultrasound,Department of Emergency Medicine,Maimonides Medical Center,Brooklyn,NY.
authors.forename: Eitan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dickman
mesh_terms: D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods*; D000067716:Point-of-Care Testing; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000379:methods*; D014132:Trachea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: intubation