The internal diameter of the endotracheal tube can be used to determine the depth of tube placement during orotracheal intubation.
Patient selection: pediatric patient < 12 years of age
Parameter:
(1) internal diameter of the endotracheal tube (ETT)
depth of endotracheal tube insertion in centimeters =
= 3 * (ETT size)
The accuracy of the estimate depends on the value for the ETT tube:
(1) recommended by the Broselow tape: 85% accurate
(2) recommended by the age-based PALS equation (divide age by 4 then add 4): 81% accurate
(3) tube actually placed: 75% accurate
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Specialty: Pulmonology, Pedatrics
