Presentation of Two Simple Methods to Confirm Proper Tracheal Intubation: Palm Pressure, Plastic Bag Inflation, and Bag Pulsation

The correct placement of the endotracheal tube is a cornerstone of safe anesthesia. Different methods, such as auscultation, capnography, and ultrasound, have their own limitations regarding the confirmation of endotracheal intubation, reinforcing the idea that a single technique is not foolproof. This study proposes a new technique in this regard.
A total of 600 patients were enrolled in this study, and tracheal intubation was checked with palm pressure and disposable plastic glove inflation and pulsation.
The data were analyzed using the t-test and Mann-Whitney U test that indicate 94% and 94.8% sensitivity for palm pressure and bag pulsation, respectively, and a 100% positive predictive value for both tests.
Palm pressure and bag pulsation are accurate, inexpensive, and reliable techniques to confirm proper tracheal intubation.