Endotracheal tube size estimation using ultrasonography in paediatric patients: A prospective randomized controlled study

Abstract

Endotracheal intubation (ETT) is the gold standard for airway management and is one of the most commonly performed procedure. Improper selection of endotracheal tube it results in complications like, inadequate ventilation, poor reliability of end-tidal gas monitoring, leakage of anaesthetic gases into operating room environment and enhanced risk of aspiration. The conventional age-based formulas doesn’t reflect the actual tracheal diameter for selection of endotracheal tube. Hence repeated laryngoscopy is often required to place an appropriate sized endotracheal tube especially in paediatric patients. Recent studies have documented that the anatomical structures in supraglottic, glottic and subglottic regions can be evaluated by ultrasound. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine appropriate endotracheal tube size in paediatric patients by using ultrasound and by comparing it with age based formula.