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Updated: Aug 31, 2026

The Rigid Tube as an Alternative in Controlling the Problematic Airway
Published on: June 6, 2020
Tracheoscopy with the rapiscope to verify endotracheal tube placement
S T John Sum Ping1, James A Pittman, Stuart A Hohm
1Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. sam.sum-ping@utsouthwestern.edu
Study Objective:
To determine whether tracheoscopy is an accurate and quick method for verifying correct placement of the tracheal tube after intubation.
Design:
Prospective, randomized study.
Setting:
Operating rooms of a teaching hospital.
Patients:
26 patients scheduled for surgery and general anesthesia.
Interventions:
8.0-mm tracheal tubes were inserted into both the trachea and the esophagus. Tracheoscopy was performed consecutively through both tracheal tubes by a variety of clinicians.
Measurements:
The times taken to correctly identify the trachea and the esophagus were recorded.
Main Results:
Correct identification of either the esophagus or the trachea occurred with a 100% sensitivity and a 96% specificity. The mean time to recognize either the trachea or the esophagus was 22.0 seconds.
Conclusions:
Tracheoscopy is a reliable method for quickly verifying proper endotracheal placement of a tracheal tube.
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