Magill versus Mallinckrodt tracheal tubes. A comparative study of postoperative sore throat

An attempt to assess the relative merits of Magill and Mallinckrodt tracheal tubes is described. One hundred patients scheduled for routine gynaecological operations were randomly allocated to one of two groups of 50; in one, Magill red rubber tubes were used and in the other, Mallinckrodt tubes. The incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat were assessed on the day after operation. Fifty percent of those intubated with Magill tubes suffered sore throats, compared with 28% with Mallinckrodt (p less than 0.05). In both groups, sore throat was more frequent in younger patients undergoing short operations: smokers intubated with Magill tubes had significantly more sore throat than smokers in whom Mallinckrodt tubes were used.