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Assessment and confirmation of tracheal intubation when capnography fails: a novel use for an USB camera

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Abstract

A 62 year old male with a right pyriform fossa lesion extending to the right arytenoid and obscuring the glottic inlet was planned for laser assisted excision. Direct laryngoscopic assessment after topicalization of the airway, showed a Cormack Lehane grade 3 view. We report a case where, in the absence of a fiberscope, a novel inexpensive Universal Serial Bus camera was used to obtain an optimal laryngoscopic view. This provided direct visual confirmation of tracheal intubation with a Laser Flex tube, when capnography failed to show any trace. Capnography may not be reliable as a sole indicator of confirmation of correct endotracheal tube placement. Video laryngoscopy may provide additional confirmation of endotracheal intubation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kasturba Medical College Manipal, Manipal University, Manipal, India

    John George Karippacheril, Goneppanavar Umesh & Shetty Nanda

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  1. John George Karippacheril
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  2. Goneppanavar Umesh
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  3. Shetty Nanda
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Correspondence to Goneppanavar Umesh.

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Karippacheril, J.G., Umesh, G. & Nanda, S. Assessment and confirmation of tracheal intubation when capnography fails: a novel use for an USB camera. J Clin Monit Comput 27, 531–533 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10877-013-9458-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10877-013-9458-1

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