An evaluation of carbon dioxide laser reflectivity from laser - resistant endotracheal tubes and wraps

This study compared Mallinckrodt® Laser-FlexTM with polyvinyl chloride endotracheal tubes (ETTs) wrapped with aluminum foil tape, copper foil tape, or Merocel® Laser-Guard laser-resistant wrap to determine ifspecular reflection occurred during exposure to a carbon dioxide (co2) laser. The ETTs were straightened and centered within cardboard cylinders and exposed to a laser set at 25 W for a maximum of60 seconds in the continuous and intermittent modes. The laser sighting beam was directed at the ETT at a 45-degree angle. Time to reflectivity was measured when discoloration formed on the cardboard cylinder following laser activation. Measurements revealed that the Laser-Flex ETT was most resistant to reflection damage in both the continuous (21.3 seconds) and intermittent (50.8 seconds) modes compared with Laser-Guard (4.8 seconds and 10.6 seconds), aluminum (1.0 seconds and 1.6 seconds) and the copper (1.1 seconds and 1.7 seconds) groups respectively. We concluded that the Mallinckrodt Laser-Flex and the Merocel Laser-Guard were less reflective of incident co2 laser radiation than the copper or aluminum foil wrapped tracheal tubes.