Colibri coloriometric technology rapidly detects oesophagal intubations

SA Puntervoll¹, E Søreide², W Jacewicz² and E Bjeland¹

¹Norwegian Air Ambulance, Stavanger, Norway

²Department of anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Rogaland University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway

from 19th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine
Brussels, Belgium. 16–19 March 1999

Critical Care 1999, 3(Suppl 1):P005doi:10.1186/cc380

Published:

16 March 2000

Introduction

Rapid verification of correct placement is extremely important [1,2]. We have tested a new coloriometric CO₂ detection indicator meant for this purpose [3].

Methods

An entdotracheal tube was placed both in the trachea and the oesophagus in otherwise healthy patients undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia. We compared the four first ventilations of the endotracheal and oesophageal tube using capnography and a Capno Bri indicator with four different colour gradings. (Blue ~ 0.5%, dark green ~ 1.0%, light green ~ 3.0% and yellow ~ 4.0%)

Results

In all patients (n = 9), the indicator confirmed correct placement of the tube in the trachea at the first ventilation (yellow color). The indicator also verified incorrect oesophageal placement at the first ventilation in all patients (blue color).

These results were confirmed by the capnography.

Conclusion

The Colibri technology is a reliable technique for confirmation of correct endotracheal tube placement. It may be especially suitable in emergency situations where capnography is not available

References

Sum Ping ST: Accuracy of the FEFCO₂ detector in the assessment of endotracheal tube placement.
Anaest Analg 1992, 74:415-419.
Sayah AJ: End-tidal CO₂ measurement in the detection of esophagus intubation during cardiac arrest.
Ann Emerg Med 1990, 19:8. PubMed Abstract
Singer M: .
Colibri: a new means of CO2 detection. ESA Congress in Barcelona 1998.

This article is part of the supplement: 19th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine