Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Pediatric Endotracheal Tube Placement Confirmation by Advanced Practice Transport Nurses

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to identify which point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) techniques and sonographic signs were reliably acquired and interpreted by transport nurses for the confirmation of endotracheal tube placement in children.

Methods: We developed and assessed a multimodal POCUS training curriculum for transport nurses that evaluated 5 sonographic signs using 3 scanning techniques.

Results: Twenty-one transport nurses were enrolled in the curriculum. The mean scores (95% confidence interval [CI]) of the knowledge test were 82% (95% CI, 63%-93%), 88% (95% CI, 68%-95%), and 74% (95% CI, 53%-87%) for tracheal, lung, and hemidiaphragmatic scans, respectively. For the simulation image evaluation, 94% (95% CI, 77%-99%) of tracheal scan images, 97% (95% CI, 81%-99%) of lung scan images, and 88% (95% CI, 69%-96%) of hemidiaphragmatic scan images were determined clinically useful. For the pediatric intensive care unit image evaluation, 100% (95% CI, 86%-100%) of tracheal scan images, 100% (95% CI, 86%-100%) of lung scan images, and 79% (95% CI, 59%-91%) of hemidiaphragmatic scan images were determined clinically useful. A tracheal dilation sign was rarely captured by POCUS.

Conclusion: Transport nurses can acquire POCUS skills to confirm endotracheal tube placement in children. A combination of a double trachea sign, a lung sliding sign, and a lung pulse sign could be a feasible POCUS approach.