Recognizing oesophageal intubation: successful use of the oesophageal detector device combined with a disposable end-tidal carbon dioxide detector
Date
2016-08-17
Authors
Bothma, Pieter Adriaan
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Abstract
Unrecognized oesophageal intubation leads to death or severe disability.
Even careful, well trained anaesthetists may be unable to differentiate
tracheal from oesophageal intubation by the commonly employed methods.
End-tidal carbon dioxide measurement has been found to be a reliable test
of tracheal intubation. The availability of a small disposable end-tidal carbon
dioxide detector, the Easy cap makes this facility universally available. The
oesophageal detector device is a small mechanical device used to recognize
oesophageal intubation. By combining two reliable devices working on
completely different principles the risk of false negative or false positive
results are virtually eliminated. The potential defects of each device are
covered by the other.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the combined use of the
oesophageal detector device and the Easy cap by a blinded observer to
differentiate the endotracheal tube from an oesophageal tube in sixty
patients. These two tests were found to be very reliable, easy, rapid and
cheap - ideal for use in theatre, casualty departments and in the field. The
advantages and disadvantages of these devices are discussed and the relevant
literature is reviewed.
Description
A dissertation to the Faculty of Medicine, University of the
Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the
degree of Master of Medicine (in the branch of Anaesthesia).
Johannesburg 1994.