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CompletedNCT00378651Updated Dec 19, 2007

Use of the Stethoscope to Confirm Breathing Tube Placement

An interventional study of Neck Auscultation in Intubation, Endotracheal, sponsored by University of Manitoba. Completed at 1 site in Canada. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2007-12-19.

Sponsored by University of Manitoba · Not applicable, Interventional, and Diagnostic

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
23
Allocation
Non-randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This study is intended to validate the use of neck auscultation with an electronic stethoscope during intubation to confirm tracheal tube placement.

It is hypothesized that the ability to confirm correct tube placement with this technique will be similar to that of the end-tidal CO2 monitor, the current gold-standard device for confirming tracheal intubation.

Read the detailed description

Unrecognized esophageal intubation results in disastrous consequences. Fortunately, a variety of techniques have been cited to confirm placement of the endotracheal tube. However, even end-tidal CO2 monitoring, considered to be the gold standard, has been associated with false positive and false negative results. In addition, use of this monitor requires ventilation through the tube, resulting in gastric distention if the esophagus has been intubated.

When the lateral neck is auscultated during insertion of an endotracheal tube, there is a distinct difference between the sounds generated by a tube placed in the esophagus compared to a tube inserted into the trachea. Stethoscopes are readily available in any OR setting, and ventilation and release of cricoid pressure need not occur prior to confirmation of tube placement. However, this technique has yet to be validated.

A series of sounds heard at the lateral neck during both tracheal and esophageal intubation will be recorded using an electronic stethoscope. These sound files will be played to a group including both experienced and inexperienced intubators, who will be asked to identify which sounds represent tracheal and esophageal intubation. Overall accuracy will be determined for the group of listeners.

02

Conditions studied

  • Intubation, Endotracheal

Keywords

  • Intubation, Endotracheal
  • Anesthesia, General
03

In context

Lead sponsor

University of Manitoba is the lead sponsor of 542 studies on the registry; 87 are open to participants now.

Of its 12 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 5 (42%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • Elective surgery requiring general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Anticipated difficult intubation
  • Contraindication to esophageal intubation
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Diagnostic
Allocation
Non-randomized
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
23 participants

Interventions

  • ProcedureNeck Auscultation
06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Group accuracy: Correct identification of tube placement based on series of 30 sound files

07

Study locations

1 site
  • St. Boniface General Hospital
    Winnipeg, Manitoba R2H 2A6, Canada
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Dec 19, 2007, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00378651
Lead sponsor
University of Manitoba
First posted
Sep 20, 2006
Start date
Sep 2006
Completion
Jan 2007
Last update
Dec 19, 2007

Study contacts

Wei-Shuen Tan, BSc(Hon), MD
principal investigator · Department of Anesthesia, University of Manitoba
Chris Christodoulou, MBCHB, FRCPC
principal investigator · St. Boniface Hospital
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Dec 2007. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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