Comparing the complications of endotracheal intubation of flexible endotracheal tubes with conventional tracheal tubes

General anesthesia is usually required to insert an endotracheal tube into the trachea. In some patients or some conditions intubation is difficult and requires the use of assistive devices by an expert. Investigator of this study used his experience to make a flexible tracheal tube from P.V.C. which was easy to use. This study aimed to compare the complications of endotracheal intubation with common tracheal tube and flexible tube made by the researcher in this study.

This research was a clinical trial study. A total of 128 patients candidate for elective general anesthesia were randomly assigned to intubate with common PVC tubes (n=53) or flexible tubes (n=76). The induction of anesthesia was similar for all the patients. Data were analyzed with SPSS software and P<0.05 was significant.

There was no sore throat in 39 (%73/6) participants in control group and 55 (%72/6) subjects in study group; no significant difference was observed between the two groups (p=0.433). Furthermore no significant difference was detected between groups regarding the incidence of cough. 42 patients (%79/2) of the control group and 69 patients (%90/8) of study group didn’t have cough at different evaluation times after operation (p=0.272). Neither of subjects developed hoarseness.Conclousions: The tracheal tube designed by the researcher, in terms of performance efficiency and complications, is comparable with foreign available brands in the market. Besides it is more economic, easier to use and does not require accessory device.