title: [Preformed pediatric endotracheal tubes].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The goal of this investigation was to evaluate the details of preformed pediatric endotracheal tubes (PPETTs, I. D. 3.0-6.0 mm).
  
  
  METHODS
  Dimensions of all PPETTs were measured as follows: the distance from tube tip to the distal border of depth markings, length and the number of depth markings, outer diameter and length of the tubes, the distance from tube tip to the bent section, the number of the Murphy eyes and calculated cross sectional area of the Murphy eyes, the distance from tube tip to the distal/proximal border of the cuff, cuff diameter and cuff volume at 20 cmH2O cuff pressure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 80 PPETTs, including 18 brands from 5 manufacturers, were investigated, of which 30% of PPETTs are cuffed tubes. There are significant variability in the distance from tube tip to the bent section, the number and position of depth markings, the number of the Murphy eyes and position and diameter of cuff at 20 cmH2O cuff pressure for a given I. D.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are no uniformity in the details of PPETTs. The details of PPETTs including those with high volume low pressure cuff should be updated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566.
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shibasaki
authors.forename: Nobuaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shime
authors.forename: Yasufumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: Teiji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sawa
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation*