Figure 1. The cuffs of an 8.0 mm-ID reinforced endotracheal tube (left), an 8.0 mm-ID RAE endotracheal tube (center), and a size 8 Shiley tracheostomy tube (right) are inflated to a 15-ml volume to illustrate the difference in cuff size and design between the three tubes. The arrows indicate the pilot tubes, which extend beyond the cuff to the tip in the first two tubes. Therefore, cutting off the tip of these tubes compromises the cuff seal.