Prehospital and disaster medicine
-
Prehosp Disaster Med · Apr 1990
Prehospital and emergency department verification of endotracheal tube position using a portable, non-directable, fiberoptic bronchoscope.
Verification of endotracheal tube (ETT) location in prehospital setting and the emergency department (ED) is a challenging task. Unrecognized esophageal intubations with potentially dangerous consequences may occur more frequently in these environments than in less hectic settings. To evaluate the capabilities of a portable, non-directable, fiberoptic bronchoscope (Visicath; Saratoga Medical, Saratoga, Calif., USA) to detect appropriate ETT placement, a prospective series of 22 intubated prehospital, air-medical, or ED patients underwent fiberoptic verification (FOV) of a newly placed ETT. ⋯ FOV confirmed placement in 23 intubations (96%) in less than 25 seconds. Seven intubations (29%) were judged to be "difficult." FOV resulted in five minor changes in management (22%) and was the sole confirmation method for five intubations. We conclude that fiberoptic verification is a promising method of ETT position in air-medical and ED intubations.