What size tube doctor? Bigger may be better - at least for weaning

experience has compelled us to write this letter as several patients, referred to our hospital and labelled slow-weaners, made rapid progress when upsized to a larger internal diameter (ID) tracheostomy. Accelerated weaning with larger ID tracheostomies is partially explained by physical principles. Flow through the airways (natural and artifi cial) is both turbulent and laminar. Flow through a tracheostomy/ endotracheal tube (ETT) is mainly laminar and governed by the Hagen–Poiseuille equation: Flow = pressure×radius 4 ×π / length×viscosity×8 Th e radius of a tube has the predominant infl uence on gas fl ow; small changes in tracheostomy/ETT ID can exert a large eff ect on fl ow. For a given pressure gradient, the patient will receive greater gas fl ow through a larger tracheostomy/ETT, reducing work of breathing (WoB). Th is may result in a more rapid weaning process than would be the case with a smaller ID tube. Work performed in the 1960s demonstrated that WoB increases as tracheostomy ID reduces, and WoB through a tracheostomy is only less than WoB through the mouth with ID ≥10 mm [1]. Removable inner cannulae further reduce IDs by about 1 to 1.5 mm [2], and removing them reduces WoB and may aid weaning [3] – but with the attendant risk of tube occlusion. Respiratory secretions and/or biofi lm may further reduce the eff ective ID. Applying the Hagen–Poiseuille equation indicates that approximately 70% greater WoB may be required when a size 7 mm ID tube is used over a size 8 mm tube. WoB imposed by a trache ostomy is less than that imposed by an equivalent ID ETT [4], and one would rarely try to wean an adult patient with a 5.5 mm ID ETT in place; yet this sub-optimal scenario is not that dissimilar from using a 7 mm ID tracheostomy with an inner cannula (often reducing eff ective ID to ~5.5 mm). It is interesting and surprising to note that, in large trials of early versus late tracheostomy, the size of the tubes used is not mentioned [5]. We contend that it should be standard practice in the majority of adult patients for both ETT and tracheostomy IDs to be at least 8 mm in females and 9 mm in males. Consideration should also be given to other strategies that maximise trache ostomy/ETT ID in the weaning phase. Th is attention should ensure that WoB is minimised during …