Metal anesthesia circuit components stop the progression of laser fires.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether metallic Y-pieces and elbows would halt the progression of a laser-induced endotracheal tube fire.


METHODS
A segment of polyvinyl chloride endotracheal tube was attached to either an all-plastic anesthesia circle breathing system (n = 5) or a circuit consisting of a metal Y-piece and elbow with plastic hoses (n = 5). In each case, an Nd-YAG laser was used to ignite the endotracheal tube segment and attached anesthesia circuit as 5 L/min of oxygen was flowing through them.


METHODS
Research laboratory of a university-affiliated metropolitan medical center.


RESULTS
The flames from the endotracheal tubes burned through the 22 mm hoses that were part of the all-plastic circuits in 49.5 +/- 8.8 seconds (mean +/- SD). In none of the trials with the metal components did the fire advance beyond the endotracheal tube's 15 mm adapter.


CONCLUSIONS
Metal circuit components halt the progression of laser-induced endotracheal tube fires toward the anesthesia machine.
Sosis
M B
MB
Department of Anesthesiology, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612.
Braverman
B
B
D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005390:Fires / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects*