Reliability of ultrasonography used to guide selection of uncuffed endotracheal tube size for pediatric patients / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the reliability of ultrasonography used to guide the selection of uncuffed endotracheal tube (ETT) size for pediatric patients.Methods Eighty pediatric patients requiring endotracheal intubation for elective surgery under general anesthesia,aged 2-6 yr,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ,were randomized into 2 groups (n=40 each) using a random number tablecontrol group and ultrasonography group.In control group,the internal diameter of an uncuffed ETT was determined according to age-based formulas.In ultrasonography group,the outer diameter of an uncuffed ETT was determined according to the transverse diameter of the subglottic airway at the level of the cricoids cartilage measured by ultrasonography.The air leak test was performed after intubation,and either a larger or a smaller size of ETT selected was considered as a failure of intubation.The failure of intubation and postoperative complications related to intubation were recorded.Results Compared with control group,the total failure rate of intubation and failure rate due to the smaller size of ETT selected were significantly decreased in ultrasonography group (P＜0.01).There was no significant difference in the incidence of intubation-related complications between the two groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion Ultrasonogra-phy can be used to guide the selection of ETT size for pediatric patients.