The highlight technique: airway exchange catheters with a colored marking may improve safety of airway management.

摘要

Airway exchange catheters (AEC)-such as a bougie, Aintree catheter (AIC), and double lumen tube exchange catheter (DLTEC)-are often used when tracheal intubation may be difficult. The AEC is passed into the trachea and used as a guide for the endotracheal tube (ET). It is important to know how far down the airway the tip of the AEC has been inserted and to maintain this position while the ET is being passed. However, when the ET is threaded over the AEC, the depth of insertion markers on the AEC is not readily visible. The highlight technique uses a marker such as a Sharpie~R to color a segment of the AEC 20 to 25 cm from its tip. When the highlighted zone is at the lips, the tip of the AEC will be 20 to 25 cm from the lips.