Endotracheal Tube with End-tidal Carbon Dioxide Port

I read with interest the brief report by Dr. Al-Nabhani et al.  1on problems of monitoring end-tidal carbon dioxide in extremely low-birth-weight infants during perioperative period. For the monitoring of end-tidal carbon dioxide in neonates, I agree that it is necessary to sample alveolar gases to avoid the dilution of carbon dioxide by dead space created by ventilating devices such as the endotracheal tube adaptor, the Y-piece of the breathing circuit, and even the T-piece for carbon dioxide sampling, and it is necessary to insert a catheter into the endotracheal tube for sampling of alveolar gases.

For sampling of alveolar gases without using an endotracheal catheter, an endotracheal tube with end-tidal carbon dioxide monitoring port (Mallinckrodt Inc., St. Louis, MO) is available. As shown in figure 1, the lumen for end-tidal carbon dioxide sampling extends to near the distal end of endotracheal tube. The outside diameter of the 3.0-mm uncuffed tube with monitoring port is 4.5 mm, compared with 4.3 mm for a standard uncuffed tube. Although the endotracheal tube with monitoring port is slightly larger in size by 0.2 mm, the difference is negligible. I have never had any problems with endotracheal intubation. With use of this tube, one can avoid the insertion of the catheter into the endotracheal tube, and hence avoid related complications.

New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York. charles6133@msn.com