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ABSTRACT: Objectives
Unrecognised malposition of the endotracheal tube can lead to severe complications in patients under general anaesthesia. The purpose of this study was to verify the feasibility of using ultrasound to measure the distance between the upper edge of saline-inflated cuff and the vocal cords.Design
Prospective case-control study.Setting
A tertiary hospital in Beijing, China.Methods
In this prospective study, 105 adult patients who required general anaesthesia were enrolled. Prior to induction, ultrasound was used to identify the position of the vocal cords. After intubation, the endotracheal tube (ETT) was fixed at a depth of 23?cm at the upper incisors in men and 21?cm in women. The depth of intubation was verified by video-assisted laryngoscopy. The distance between the upper edge of the saline-inflated cuff and the vocal cords was measured by ultrasound; the ideal distance was considered to be 1.9-4.1?cm.Results
Among the 105 cases, two cuffs were too close to the vocal cords and one too far away from the vocal cords. These diagnoses were made by ultrasound and were in agreement with results from direct laryngoscopy. The overall accuracy of ultrasound in identifying malposition of the cuff was 100.0% (95% CI: 96.6% to 100%). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of ultrasound were, respectively, 100% (95% CI: 96.5% to 100%), 100% (95% CI: 29.2% to 100%), 100% (95% CI: 96.5% to 100%) and 100% (95% CI: 29.2% to 100%).Conclusion
Identification of the upper edge of the saline-inflated cuff and the vocal cords by ultrasound to assess the location of the ETT is a reliable method. It can be used to avoid malposition of the ETT cuff and reduce the incidence of vocal cords injury after intubation.Trial registration number
ChiCTR-DDD-17011048.
SUBMITTER: Chen X
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6286487 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Chen Xuanling X Zhai Wenwen W Yu Zhuoying Z Geng Jiao J Li Min M
BMJ open 20181206 12
<h4>Objectives</h4>Unrecognised malposition of the endotracheal tube can lead to severe complications in patients under general anaesthesia. The purpose of this study was to verify the feasibility of using ultrasound to measure the distance between the upper edge of saline-inflated cuff and the vocal cords.<h4>Design</h4>Prospective case-control study.<h4>Setting</h4>A tertiary hospital in Beijing, China.<h4>Methods</h4>In this prospective study, 105 adult patients who required general anaesthes ...[more]