M B Sosis1. 1. Department of Anesthesiology, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL.
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether saline soaked pledgets would protect the cuffs of polyvinylchloride (PVC) endotracheal tubes from carbon dioxide (CO2) laser-induced combustion. DESIGN: 12 PVC endotracheal tubes were studied. The cuffed end of each was placed in a graduated cylinder and flushed with 5 L/min of oxygen for 5 minutes. The endotracheal tube's cuff was then inflated with air and the system pressure set to 20 cm H2O. SETTING: Research laboratory of a university hospital. INTERVENTIONS: Six of the endotracheal tube cuffs were protected with 1 inch by 3 inch saline soaked pledgets and six were left unprotected. A CO2 laser set to 40 watts was then fired at the cuffs. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: All six unprotected cuffs were ignited in less than 1 second. No significant combustion occurred at the six pledget protected endotracheal tube cuffs after 1 minute of laser fire. CONCLUSIONS: Under the conditions of this experiment, saline soaked pledgets protected PVC endotracheal tube cuffs from the CO2 laser.
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether saline soaked pledgets would protect the cuffs of polyvinylchloride (PVC) endotracheal tubes from carbon dioxide (CO2) laser-induced combustion. DESIGN: 12 PVC endotracheal tubes were studied. The cuffed end of each was placed in a graduated cylinder and flushed with 5 L/min of oxygen for 5 minutes. The endotracheal tube's cuff was then inflated with air and the system pressure set to 20 cm H2O. SETTING: Research laboratory of a university hospital. INTERVENTIONS: Six of the endotracheal tube cuffs were protected with 1 inch by 3 inch saline soaked pledgets and six were left unprotected. A CO2 laser set to 40 watts was then fired at the cuffs. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: All six unprotected cuffs were ignited in less than 1 second. No significant combustion occurred at the six pledget protected endotracheal tube cuffs after 1 minute of laser fire. CONCLUSIONS: Under the conditions of this experiment, saline soaked pledgets protected PVC endotracheal tube cuffs from the CO2 laser.