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Unrecognized bronchial intubation associated with the uncuffed pediatric tracheal tube with bilateral M urphy eyes
Author(s) -
Sugiyama Kazuna,
Manabe Yozo,
Kohjitani Atsushi
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
pediatric anesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.704
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1460-9592
pISSN - 1155-5645
DOI - 10.1111/pan.12016
Subject(s) - medicine , tracheal tube , auscultation , intubation , tube (container) , tracheal intubation , surgery , airway , anesthesia , radiology , mechanical engineering , engineering
Summary Background Unreliability of breath sounds auscultation after intubation is reportedly mainly related to the presence of the M urphy eye. This study was performed to ascertain whether an uncuffed pediatric tracheal tube with bilateral M urphy eyes increases the risk of unrecognized bronchial intubation, compared to an uncuffed tube without eyes. Methods Following induction of anesthesia in 50 toddlers, either an uncuffed tube without eyes or an uncuffed tube with bilateral eyes was inserted into the trachea. The tube was then slowly advanced while breath sounds were auscultated using a stethoscope. In study 1, when breath sounds changed and disappeared, the distance from the carina to the tube tip was measured using a fiberoptic bronchoscope. In study 2, when breath sounds changed, the tracheal tube was withdrawn 5, 10, 15 and 20 mm while using a fiberoptic bronchoscope to ascertain whether bronchial intubation had occurred. Results When breath sounds changed and disappeared, the tip of the tube with bilateral eyes was positioned more deeply below the carina than that of the tube without eyes. When the tube was withdrawn 10 mm from the point at which breath sounds changed, frequencies of bronchial intubation were 13% and 80% in the no eyes and double eyes groups, respectively. Conclusion An uncuffed pediatric tracheal tube with bilateral M urphy eyes reduces the ability of breath sounds auscultation to detect bronchial intubation and may increase the risk of unrecognized bronchial intubation compared to an uncuffed tube without eyes.