Shallow nasal RAE tube depth after head and neck surgery: association with preoperative and intraoperative factors

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate risk factors associated with improper postoperative nasal Ring-Adair-Elwyn (RAE) tube depth. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 133 adult patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with the nasal RAE tube after head and neck surgery. Postoperative chest radiography was performed to confirm nasal RAE tube depth immediately after the patient was admitted to the ICU. Proper tube depth was defined as the tube tip between 2 and 7 cm above the carina. The patients were divided into the proper-depth group (78 patients) and the improper-depth group (55 patients). Patients' characteristics were collected. The risk factors for improper postoperative tube depth were assessed using logistic regression analysis. MAIN RESULTS: All patients who showed improper tube depth had a shallow tube depth (the tube tip > 7 cm above the carina). Multivariable analysis revealed that tall stature [odds ratio (OR) 1.16: 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08-1.25: P < 0.001], prolonged anesthesia duration (OR 1.16: 95% CI 1.02-1.32: P = 0.026), and right-sided surgical field as compared to the left (OR 0.36: 95% CI 0.14-0.93: P = 0.034) or median field (OR 0.25: 95% CI 0.07-0.85: P = 0.027) were risk factors associated with postoperative shallow tube depth. CONCLUSIONS: Tall stature, prolonged anesthesia duration, and right-sided surgical field were independent risk factors for postoperative shallow nasal RAE tube depth.