Mb. Sosis et B. Braverman, EVALUATION OF FOIL COVERINGS FOR PROTECTING PLASTIC ENDOTRACHEAL-TUBES FROM THE POTASSIUM-TITANYL-PHOSPHATE LASER, Anesthesia and analgesia, 77(3), 1993, pp. 589-591
The potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser is being used for airway surgery
and could cause an endotracheal tube fire. To determine whether five
different metallic foil tapes or the Laser-Guard protective wrap would
protect polyvinylchloride (PVC) endotracheal tubes from this laser, i
t was set to a power of 18 W and aimed at the wrapped endotracheal tub
e under study for up to 1 min while 5 L/min of oxygen flowed through t
he endotracheal tube. A plain (unwrapped) PVC endotracheal tube was st
udied also. The plain PVC endotracheal tube was ignited by the laser a
fter 14 s. Potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser radiation did not signifi
cantly affect the nonadhesive sides of the foil tapes tested or the La
ser-Guard covering. However, potassium-titanyl-phosphate laser radiati
on caused ignition or melting of underlying PVC endotracheal tubes whe
n it was applied to the endotracheal tubes with the adhesive side of t
he foil tapes facing outward. It is concluded that only the Laser-Guar
d protective coating adequately protected the PVC endotracheal tubes t
ested under the conditions of this experiment.