Study objective: To examine the validity of a disposable, colorimetric end-tidal CO 2 detector in verifying endotracheal tube (ETT) placement in infants and children.
Design: The detector was studied prospectively in 151 intubations.
Setting: Operating room, ICU, and emergency department of a children's hospital.
Participants: One hundred thrity-seven children undergoing endotracheal intubation for anesthesia (52), respiratory support (76), or 0PR (23).
Interventions: After endotracheal intubation, tube position was verified, the detecter was attached, and readings were obtained.
Measurements and results: The detector correctly identified tube position (trachea, 124; esophagus, four)in all 120 patients who were not in cardiac arrest (P< .01). In the cardiac arrest setting, all six esophageal intubations were correctly identified, but two of the 17 tracheal intubations were incorrectly interpreted as esophageal intubations (P< .01).
Conclusion:
The detector accurately identifies FTT position in children with spontaneous circulation who weigh more than 2 kg. During CPR, a positive test correctly indicates that the ETT is in the airway, but a negative result (suggesting esophageal placement) requires an alternate means of confirming ETT position. [Bhende MS, Thompson AE, Cook DR, Saville AL: Validity of a disposable end-tidal CO z detector in verifying endotracheal tube placement in infants and children. Ann