A safe, nonflammable, all-metal, cuffless endotracheal Venturi ventilation system for use in laser surgery

In this preliminary study with seven dogs, ventilation with a Sanders bronchoscope attachment coupled to the Norton metal endotracheal tube and use of a jet O₂ injector system proved adequate for sustained oxygenation and acid-base balance. This system is shown to be superior to the conventional anesthesia volume ventilator when used with the cuffless metal endotracheal tube. The ventilatory capability can be easily adjusted upward and downward by changing the driving pressures of the reducing valve. Peak intratracheal and transtracheal pressure measurements show the pressures encountered to be similar to those of conventional volume ventilation techniques. The use of the all-metal endotracheal tube in endolaryngeal laser surgery is discussed. The advantages of such a system lie in the elimination of a flammable endotracheal tube during laser endolaryngeal surgery while preserving adequate and stable ventilation.