A predetermined endotracheal tube depth
prior to intubation ensures correct tube placement
relative to the carina. The objective of this study was
to determine if the topographic measurement from
the middle fingertip (MFT) to Rascette line (RL) or
"wrist line" correlates with acceptable endotracheal
tube (ET) depth during orotracheal intubation. This
was a prospective, analytical cross-sectional pilot
study of 54 adult Filipino patients who underwent
general anesthesia with orotracheal intubation. The
middle fingertip to Rascette line measurement was
utilized as the basis for endotracheal tube depth with
ET secured on the right corner of the mouth. After
intubation, a chest x-ray was performed to measure
the distance from the endotracheal tube tip to the
carina. The study showed that the average middle
fingertip to Rascette line measurement among
Filipinos was 18.79cm (± 1.08) which resulted in
85.19% of patients with ET tip to carina within the
acceptable distance of 2-Scm, with a mean value of
3.17cm. The mean MFT to RL measurement in
females was 18.28cm and 19.81 cm in males. The
mean distance of ET tip to carina in females was
2.91 cm and 3.66cm in males. There was a significant
positive correlation between the middle fingertip to
Rascette line measurement and height. This study
also documented the total length from the right
corner of the mouth to carina, by adding middle
fingertip to Rascette line measurement and the
distance from ET tip to carina, resulting in a mean
value of 23.46cm (±2.06) in males and 21.19 cm
(±1 .73) in females. In conclusion, middle fingertip
to Rascette line measurement is an acceptable technique to determine individualized endotracheal
tube depth during orotracheal intubation. This
topographic measurement resulted in 96.29% of ET
tip :?: 1 cm above the carina.