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Saline soaked pledgets prevent carbon dioxide laser-induced endotracheal tube cuff ignition
1Department of Anesthesiology, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL.
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.