Evaluation of the SCOTI device for confirming blind nasal intubation

The sonomatic confirmation of tracheal intubation (SCOTI) is a new device u sed to confirm the correct placement of tracheal tubes. It utilises a sonic technique for recognition of a resonating frequency for detection of trach eal intubation. We compared its predictive value with that of the clinical auscultatory method and a capnograph to confirm 132 blind nasal intubations using three different tracheal tubes [red rubber (n = 82), polyvinyl chlor ide (n = 33) and RAE preformed nasal (n = 17)]. SCOTI correctly identified 70.8% of intubations and chest auscultation did so 99.2% of times. All resu lts were confirmed using a capnograph. The SCOTI device gave a false-negati ve value in 37 patients (28%) and a false-positive result in two patients ( 1.5%). The response time for confirming intubations was 2.5 (1.5) s for the SCOTI, 4.1 (1.1) s for a capnograph and 40 (9.4) s for the auscultatory me thod. The erroneous results shown by the SCOTI device were highest when pol yvinyl chloride tubes with a Murphy's eye were used for intubation. This st udy shows that this device is not very useful for ascertaining the correct placement of tracheal tubes after blind nasal intubation.