Citation

Sosis MB, Braverman B. J. Clin. Anesth. 1994; 6(1): 52-54.

Affiliation

Department of Anesthesiology, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8142101

Abstract

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether metallic Y-pieces and elbows would halt the progression of a laser-induced endotracheal tube fire. DESIGN: A segment of polyvinyl chloride endotracheal tube was attached to either an all-plastic anesthesia circle breathing system (n = 5) or a circuit consisting of a metal Y-piece and elbow with plastic hoses (n = 5). In each case, an Nd-YAG laser was used to ignite the endotracheal tube segment and attached anesthesia circuit as 5 L/min of oxygen was flowing through them. SETTING: Research laboratory of a university-affiliated metropolitan medical center. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The flames from the endotracheal tubes burned through the 22 mm hoses that were part of the all-plastic circuits in 49.5 +/- 8.8 seconds (mean +/- SD). In none of the trials with the metal components did the fire advance beyond the endotracheal tube's 15 mm adapter. CONCLUSIONS: Metal circuit components halt the progression of laser-induced endotracheal tube fires toward the anesthesia machine.

Language: en