Unrecognised oesophageal intubation: time for action

Patients worldwide die every year from unrecognised oesophageal intubation, which is an avoidable complication of airway management usually resulting from human error. Unrecognised oesophageal intubation can occur in any patient of any age whenever intubation occurs regardless of the seniority or experience of the airway practitioner or others involved in the patient's airway management. The tragic fact is that it continues to happen despite improvements in monitoring, airway devices, and medical education. We review these improvements with strategies to eliminate this problem.

Automated summary

Unrecognised oesophageal intubation, resulting from human error, is an avoidable complication of airway management that leads to patient deaths worldwide. Despite improvements in monitoring, airway devices, and medical education, this problem persists. In this review, we examine these improvements and propose strategies to eliminate this issue.