A Method of Detecting Oesophageal Intubation or Confirming Tracheal Intubation

Frova intubating catheter position can be determined with aspirating oesophageal detection device

“…Following each catheter placement the oesophageal detector device () was attached and aspirated by an observer (anaesthetic technician) blinded to catheter location. Successful aspiration of greater than or equal to 30 mL air was defined as ‘positive’ for tracheal placement in line with previous investigators of aspirating detector device usage 7 …”

“…Capnography, however, might provide spurious confirmation of endotracheal intubation in the patient who has previously ingested large quantities of carbonated beverages, 5 and might be falsely negative in the patient with low cardiac output states, or in cardiac arrest 6 . Aspirating oesophageal detector devices (‘Wee device’ and self‐inflating bulb) have also been widely utilized to confirm tracheal placement 7–10 . Successful endotracheal intubation is indicated when on attachment to the ETT air is easily aspirated, the tracheal rings preventing tracheal collapse and thus occlusion of the ETT aperture.…”

A review of detection techniques for oesophageal intubation

“…In 1980 Pollard described the first account of the oesophageal detector device 33 . In 1988 Wee published a further description 34 and soon after, O'Leary and colleagues published a separate account and claimed that one of the authors had been using the device successfully for years 35 .…”

“…Since the original reports in 1988, there have been over 5000 intubations assessed by this device and reported in the literature 3,6,34–41 . The majority of these intubations were in clinical situations while a small number were in cadavers or animal models.…”

The ‘ODD’ thing is Australian

“…comm., no date), and performed a study in 100 patients 16 . Later that year Pollard’s group also published a study using a 60‐mL syringe 17 …”