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Removal of the stylet from the tracheal tube: effect of lubrication
Author(s) -
Taylor A. M.,
Hung O. R.,
Kwofie K.,
Hung C. R.,
Hung D. R.,
Guzzo A.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2012.07192.x
Subject(s) - stylet , medicine , lidocaine , tube (container) , lubrication , tracheal tube , silicone , sterile water , anesthesia , chromatography , intubation , surgery , materials science , composite material , chemistry , food science
Summary We compared the work needed to retract a non‐lubricated and a lubricated stylet from a tracheal tube over 24 h. Stylets were lubricated with sterile water, silicone fluid, lidocaine spray, lidocaine gel, MedPro ® lubricating gel or Lacri‐Lube ® . The mean (SD) work in joules needed to retract the stylet by 5 cm from the tracheal tube was recorded immediately (time 0), at 5 and 30 min and at 1, 3 and 24 h. At time 0 lubrication with sterile water (0.53 (0.09); p = 0.001), silicone fluid (0.43 (0.10); p < 0.001), lidocaine gel (0.60 (0.15); p = 0.01) and MedPro gel (0.57 (0.07); p = 0.005), were better than no lubrication (0.94 (0.28)). Where a tracheal tube is pre‐loaded with a stylet for use at an indeterminate time, silicone fluid was the best choice of lubricant as it performed consistently well up to 24 h. At 24 h only silicone fluid (0.49 (0.01)) outperformed no lubrication (0.77 (0.24); p = 0.04).