Pilot study to evaluate the accuracy of ultrasonography in confirming endotracheal tube placement.

Study Objective: Visualization of the vocal cords and end-tidal capnography are the usual standards in confirming endotracheal tube placement. Vocal cord visualization is, however, not always possible, and capnography is not 100% reliable and requires ventilation of the lungs to confirm placement. The goal of this study is to determine the accuracy of ultrasonography for detecting endotracheal tube placement into the trachea and esophagus in real time.

Locked anterior-inferior shoulder subluxation presenting as luxatio erecta.

Shoulder subluxation may present as a complication of either traumatic injury to a joint, repetitive mictrotrauma, or atraumatic joint laxity. The case of a middle-aged man who presented with a confusing clinical picture similar to inferior shoulder dislocation, luxatio erecta, with a radiographic diagnosis of anterior-inferior shoulder subluxation is discussed. An understanding of the differential diagnosis of shoulder dislocation and subluxation and the management of atypical presentations is critical to the emergency physician.