SALINE SOAKED PLEDGETS PREVENT CARBON-DIOXIDE LASER-INDUCED ENDOTRACHEAL-TUBE CUFF IGNITION

Study Objective: To determine whether saline soaked pledgers would protect the cuffs of polyvinylchloride (PVC) endotracheal tubes from carbon dioxide (CO2) laser-induced combustion. Design: 12 PVC endotracheal tubes were studied. The cuffed and of each was placed in a graduated cylinder and flushed with 5 L/min of oxygen for 5 minutes. The endotracheal tube's cuff was then inflated with air and the system pressure set to 20 cm H2O. Setting: Research laboratory of a university hospital. Interventions: Six of the endotracheal tube cuffs were protected with 1 inch by 3 inch saline soaked pledgets and six were left unprotected. A CO2 laser set to 40 watts was then fired al the cuffs. Measurements and Main Results: All six unprotected cuffs were ignited in less than 1 second. No significant combustion occurred at the six pledger protected endotracheal tube cuffs after 1 minute of laser fire. Conclusions: Under the conditions of this experiment, saline soaked pledgers protected PVC endotracheal tube cuffs from the CO2 laser.