• M B Sosis.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612.
• J Clin Anesth. 1992 May 1; 4 (3): 217-9.

Study ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy of special endotracheal tubes manufactured for carbon dioxide (CO2) laser surgery with foil-wrapped and plain red rubber (RR) endotracheal tubes.SettingResearch laboratory of a metropolitan, university-affiliated medical center.Design And InterventionsSix types of endotracheal tubes were studied. Each had 5 L/min of oxygen passing through it and was exposed to 69 watts of continuous CO2 laser radiation for 1 minute or until combustion occurred.Measurements And Main ResultsThe plain RR endotracheal tube burned within 15 seconds of laser impact. Aluminum foil-wrapped and copper foil-wrapped RR endotracheal tubes were not affected by the CO2 laser. The shaft of a specially manufactured stainless steel endotracheal tube was not affected by 1 minute of CO2 laser exposure. The shafts of two special endotracheal tubes made of silicone and metal burned vigorously under laser fire.ConclusionCopper foil-wrapped RR tubes, aluminum foil-wrapped RR tubes, or stainless steel tubes are recommended for laser airway surgery.

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