X-rays: Patient position for determining ETT placement
The recommended position for a neonatal patient undergoing an AP chest X-ray to determine ETT
placement is supine, with care taken to keep chest from rotating. Infant’s head may be left in its usual
position and does not need to be turned to midline. ETT should be neither pulled out from, nor pushed
into infant’s mouth. Part of the infant’s jaw should be captured on film so the position of ETT may be
appropriately determined. (Do not X-ray the whole head, only chin area needs to be included) Below
are examples of how head position alters ETT location:
Reference: Donn, SM and Kuhns LR. Mechanism of Endotracheal Tube Movement with Change of Head
Position in the Neonate. Pediatric Radiology 9, 37-40, 1980.