Abstract
The ideal endotracheal tube passes easily along the respiratory tract and is resistant to losing its shape. Using Parker Flex-Tip^[○!R] and Sheridan/CF^[○!R] oral endotracheal tubes, we investigated the force required to bend the tube in relation to the thickness of the tube wall. We found that less force was required to bend the Parker Flex-Tip^[○!R] than the Sheridan/CF^[○!R] tubes. The thickness of the tube wall was also significantly thinner in the Parker Flex-Tip^[○!R]. We found that as the inner diameter (ID) of the Sheridan/CF^[○!R] tube became narrower and the tube wall became thinner, less force was needed to bend the tube. Further, the force needed to bend tubes with different IDs also significantly correlated with the narrowness of the ID. The above suggests that tubes may bend with only a mild force, leading to the risk of obstruction.
