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Comparative analysis of the safety of endotracheal tubes with the KTP laser
Author(s) -
Fried Marvin P.,
Mallampati S. Rao,
Caminear David S.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-198907000-00017
Subject(s) - cuff , endotracheal tube , tube (container) , medicine , surgery , laser , materials science , intubation , optics , physics , composite material
The KTP laser has been used increasingly to treat various disorders of the upper aerodigestive tract. To establish the relative safety of the endotracheal tubes that are currently available, we performed laboratory testing of these tubes by exposing them to the KTP laser in an oxygen‐rich environment. Based on our observations, tubes that were all metal or metal‐wrapped endotracheal tubes were determined to be the safest. The advantage of using the all‐metal tube was that it did not need wrapping. This tube also has a second distal cuff, which would allow for continued ventilation if the proximal cuff becomes disrupted. However, under these circumstances, insertion of a new non‐disrupted tube is advised.