title: Customising the length of the Montgomery T-tube whilst retaining a bevelled edge.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Montgomery T-tube is used in a number of conditions that require safe tracheal stenting. Specific lengths of T-tube limbs are occasionally needed in patients with complex airway anatomy or differing neck proportions; this requires customisation of the T-tube limbs. This is done either by pre-ordering customised T-tubes from the manufacturer (which needs to be planned ahead of time) or using a tube cutter in the operating theatre. However, the latter does not provide a 'factory like' bevelled edge when shortened, which increases the risk of mucosal trauma and granulation formation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper reports a novel technique for customising the length of existing Montgomery T-tubes, with preservation of the bevelled edges. This technique can be easily performed with basic equipment available in operating theatres.
authors: Department of Paediatric Otolaryngology,Royal Manchester Children's Hospital,UK.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Gan
authors: Department of Paediatric Otolaryngology,Royal Manchester Children's Hospital,UK.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Varadarajan
authors: Department of Paediatric Otolaryngology,Royal Manchester Children's Hospital,UK.
authors: M P
authors: MP
authors: Rothera
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000601:surgery*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D015607:Stents; D014132:Trachea / Q000601:surgery*; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Stents