191: The Ability of Emergency Physicians to Differentiate Tracheal Versus Esophageal Placement of an Eschmann Stylet by Tactile Sensation

Abstract

The Eschmann stylet (bougie) is a commonly used intubation rescue device, which may be used to guide placement of an endotracheal tube into the trachea where visualization of the glottis is difficult. The general method of use for blind insertion includes feeling the stylet’s deflections off the tracheal cartilage rings in a successful placement. Although previously published success rates for Eschmann stylet-assisted intubation are generally greater than 90%, no data have been published on physicians’ abilities to determine esophageal versus tracheal placement through tactile stimuli only.