Small tubes revisited

Summary We measured the peak inflation and end expiratory pressure at the proximal and distal ends of twosizes of tracheal tube in men and women receiving positive pressure ventilation. There was astatistically significant increase in proximal inflation pressure when the smaller size of tube (6.5mmfor men, 6.0mm for women) was used. There was no increase in distal inflation or end expiratorypressures. Clinically satisfactory positive pressure ventilation was obtained when 6.0 and 6.5mmtracheal tubes were used. The advantages and disadvantages of using small sizes of tracheal tube arediscussed. Keywords Equipment ; tubes, tracheal. Correspondence to: Dr I. Calder*Present address: Department of Anaesthesia, National UniversityHospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074Accepted: 9 June 1997 It might be supposed that the size of tracheal tube bestsuited to adult men and women would be a matter ofgeneral agreement. Stenqvist