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The effect of blood on laser‐resistant endotracheal tube combustion
Author(s) -
Sosis Mitchel B.,
Pritikin Jordan B.,
Caldarelli David D.
Publication year - 1994
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 - 10.1288/00005537-199407000-00008
Subject(s) - materials science , foil method , laser , tube (container) , combustion , composite material , optics , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry
The protection afforded against CO 2 laser‐induced combustion by five different types of tracheal tubes or protective foil wraps was evaluated. They were compared before and after the application of human blood to their external surfaces. The tracheal tubes tested were polyvinylchloride (PVC) tubes wrapped with Venture TM copper (Cu) foil tape, 3M TM aluminum (A1) foil tape, and the Laser‐Guard TM protective coating. The Xomed Laser Shield IF TM and Mallinckrodt Laser‐Flex TM tracheal tubes were also tested. A CO 2 laser set to 38 W in the continuous mode was directed at the shaft of the tracheal tube under study, which had 5 L/min of oxygen flowing through it. The laser was actuated for 90 seconds or until combustion or melting occurred. The copper foil‐wrapped and aluminum foil‐wrapped PVC tracheal tubes were unaffected by 90 seconds of laser fire in five trials with each type of tape. However, the application of blood to the foil wrapped PVC tracheal tube shafts resulted in combustion in 3 of 5 copper foil‐wrapped tubes and melting of the underlying tracheal tube shaft in 3 of 5 aluminum foil‐wrapped PVC tracheal tubes. Blood did not affect the protection afforded by the Laser‐Guard TM coating when it was applied to the shafts of PVC tracheal tubes. Similarly, the Xomed Laser Shield IF TM tracheal tube's shaft offered good protection from the laser both before and after application of blood. Combustion occurred in 1 of 4 Mallinckrodt Laser Flex TM tracheal tubes studied prior to the application of blood. The application of blood resulted in almost immediate combustion in all 4 Mallinckrodt Laser Flex TM tracheal tubes tested. The presence of blood on the surface of metallic foil‐wrapped or special tracheal tubes may make laser‐induced combustion more likely during airway surgery. However, the Laser‐Guard TM protective coating and the Xomed Laser‐Shield IF TM tracheal tube provide good protection even when covered with blood.