[Use of pulse oximetry in the diagnosis of accidental bronchial intubation during laparoscopic surgery. Description of a clinical case]. / Utilità della pulsossimetria nella diagnosi di intubazione bronchiale accidentale nella chirurgia laparoscopia. Descrizione di un caso clinico.

In the present article a case of accidental bronchial intubation during laparoscopic cholecystectomy is described. Endotracheal tube was probably displaced by gas distension of the abdomen during laparoscopy. Indeed, under these circumstances, carina may move cephalad. Initially, tube displacement was not diagnosed by either auscultation of breath sounds, or ETCO2 monitoring. Instead, a decrease in arterial oxygen saturation, as monitored by pulse oximetry, quickly allowed diagnosis and correction of the problem. It is concluded that pulse oximetry is more sensitive than other methods in providing early warning of tube displacement during laparoscopy.