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An additional tactile test
Author(s) -
Horton W. A.,
Perera S.,
Charters P.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1988.tb05552.x
Subject(s) - medicine , laryngoscopy , intubation , nasotracheal intubation , test (biology) , surgery , anesthesia , paleontology , biology
Summary An additional clinical test to confirm laryngeal placement of tracheal tubes is described. Using the new test, placement was confirmed in all of 50 patients studied in whom difficulty would have been anticipated using previously described tactile tests (male patients with lower molar teeth). Two anaesthetists with small hands averaged 98% confirmations in two series each of 100 consecutive unselected intubations. A simple modification of the tests enables their application after nasotracheal intubation; even with small hands, a confirmation rate of 96% in 50 consecutive cases was found. The three tactile tests are reviewed and analysed. In the authors' combined experience of 14 cases of difficult laryngoscopy the tests gave reliable confirmation in 12 patients. Familiarity with these tests is stressed to be important for their reliable implementation.