title: A randomized, single-blinded, prospective study that compares complications between cuffed and uncuffed nasal endotracheal tubes of different sizes and brands in pediatric patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare any association between the problematic distal placement of cuffed and uncuffed nasal endotracheal tubes (NETTs) of different sizes and brands in pediatric patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, single-blinded, prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Operating room at The Children's Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pediatric patients (aged 2-18 years) scheduled for dental surgery under general anesthesia whose American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status is not greater than 2.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were randomly assigned to preformed cuffed (1) RAE (Ring-Adair-Elwyn) endotracheal tube by Mallinckrodt or (2) nasal AGT NETT by Rüsch.
  
  
  METHODS
  The distance between the tube's distal end and the carina was measured using a fiber optic bronchoscope. Problematic placements were defined where the tip of the tubes was within 0.5 cm of carina.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The odds of a problematic placement was 7 times higher (95% confidence interval of odds ratio, 2.06, 23.4) in patients managed with cuffed tubes than those with uncuffed tubes (P = .002). The distance between the tip of cuffed NETT tubes and carina was significantly less than with uncuffed tubes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The chances of possible complications were significantly higher with cuffed NETT. The NETT should be kept at least 0.5 cm above carina to avoid possible complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA. Electronic address: Alberto-de-Armendi@ouhsc.edu.
authors.forename: Alberto J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: de Armendi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.
authors.forename: Amir L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Butt
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.
authors.forename: Mohanad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shukry
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.
authors.forename: Jorge A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cure
authors.affiliation: Center for Biostatistics in AIDS Research, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hollabaugh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009666:Nose; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method
keywords: Cuffed NETT complications; Dental cases; Nasal endotracheal intubation; Pediatric anesthesia; Single lung ventilation; Uncuffed NETT complications