Saline soaked pledgets prevent carbon dioxide laser-induced endotracheal tube cuff ignition.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether saline soaked pledgets would protect the cuffs of polyvinylchloride (PVC) endotracheal tubes from carbon dioxide (CO2) laser-induced combustion.


METHODS
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.


METHODS
Research laboratory of a university hospital.


METHODS
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.


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.
Sosis
M B
MB
Department of Anesthesiology, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL.
D000764:Anesthesia, Closed-Circuit / Q000295:instrumentation; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005390:Fires / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000737:chemistry; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D008961:Models, Structural; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride / Q000737:chemistry; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D015503:Surgical Sponges
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D005557:Formaldehyde; C027490:polyvinyl alcohol formaldehyde foam; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol; D010100:Oxygen