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New Equations to Determine the Depth of Orotracheal Intubation in the Very Low Birth Weight Infant
Author(s) -
Ogawa Yunosuke,
Nishida Akira,
Inagawa Akira,
Kitoh Hideyuki,
Togari Hajime
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-200x.1984.tb01819.x
Subject(s) - medicine , orotracheal intubation , radiography , intubation , heel , endotracheal tube , tube (container) , surgery , anatomy , mechanical engineering , engineering
In order to avoid complications of improper endotracheal tube positioning, new equations for determining the proper depth of orotracheal intubation in the preterm infant were devised (A. for infants whose crown‐heel length <40cm; Y = 0.2X ‐ 1, B. for infants with crown‐heel length >=40lcm; Y = 0.15X + 1, where Y = proper depth of orotracheal tube in cm, X = crown‐heel length in cm). The equations were derived from orotracheal measurements on routine inspiratory chest radiographs of 124 newborn infants. Thirty consecutive orotracheal intubations were performed using new equations. Proper tube placement with the tip within 1±1.0 cm from the theoretical mid‐tracheal point was com firmed by chest radiography in all of them. There were no complications noted. These simple formulae, therefore, are useful in emergency intubation on the very low birth weight infant to avoid improper placement of the tube tip prior to radiographic confirmation.