Diagnostic Accuracy of a 3‐Point Ultrasound Protocol to Detect Esophageal or Endobronchial Mainstem Intubation in a Pediatric Emergency Department

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the 3-point approach with ultrasonography for confirming endotracheal tube (ETT) placement in pediatric patients. METHODS: This was a prospective study conducted at a tertiary care center in Japan between March 2014 and March 2016. Children aged 0 to 18 years requiring endotracheal intubation in our emergency department (ED) who underwent ultrasonography for confirming ETT placement were enrolled. Patients who had already undergone a tracheotomy or intubation before arrival at our ED or who had severe neck injuries hindering ultrasonography were excluded. Quantitative capnography and portable chest x-ray imaging were used as the reference standard for the confirmation of proper ETT placement. The main outcome was the diagnostic accuracy of the 3-point approach with ultrasonography for detecting inappropriate ETT placement. RESULTS: In total, 68 patients were enrolled. The median age was 17 months (interquartile range, 8-40), and 51.4% were males. Three (4.4%) and 7 (10.3%) patients had esophageal and endobronchial mainstem intubation, respectively. The patients received emergency intubation due to a dysfunction of the central nervous system (45.6%) or respiratory failure (22.0%). The sensitivity and specificity of esophageal versus tracheal intubation was 100% (95% confidence interval [CI], 54.9%-100.0%) and 100% (95% CI, 97.9%-100.0%), respectively, whereas for endobronchial mainstem intubation versus tracheal intubation, the sensitivity and specificity was 85.7% (95% CI, 56.7%-96.0%) and 98.3% (95% CI, 94.8%-99.5%), respectively. Agreement between the reviewers was high (kappa coefficient, 0.78). CONCLUSION: The 3-point approach with ultrasonography was a feasible method for detecting esophageal and endobronchial mainstem intubation in pediatric patients.