Pediatrics
Pediatric Endotracheal (ET) Tube Size, Depth & Equipment Selection (PALS Guidelines)
Calculates age/weight-based cuffed and uncuffed ETT size, lip-to-tip depth, and laryngoscope blade size.
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Parameters
Pediatric Endotracheal (ET) Tube Size, Depth & Equipment Selection (PALS Guidelines) Result
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Formula
Cuffed ETT Size (mm ID) = (Age in years ÷ 4) + 3.5
Uncuffed ETT Size (mm ID) = (Age in years ÷ 4) + 4.0
Lip-to-Tip Depth (cm) = (Age in years ÷ 2) + 12 (or 3 × ETT Size)
Suction Catheter Size (Fr) = 2 × ETT Size (mm)Clinical Pearls
Mandatory pediatric emergency calculation preventing subglottic tracheal mucosal stenosis and fatal endobronchial mainstem intubation.
Limitations
In syndromic children with craniofacial abnormalities or subglottic stenosis (e.g., Down syndrome), downsize ETT by 0.5 to 1.0 mm.