SEDL / STP / STP1040-EB / STP24939S

The Oxidant O² (Helium) Index of Flammability of Endotracheal Tubes

Simpson, JI
Assistant ProfessorProfessorClinical Assistant Instructor, State University of New York, Health Science Center at Brooklyn, Brooklyn, New York

Wolf, GL
Assistant ProfessorProfessorClinical Assistant Instructor, State University of New York, Health Science Center at Brooklyn, Brooklyn, New York

Schiff, GA
Assistant ProfessorProfessorClinical Assistant Instructor, State University of New York, Health Science Center at Brooklyn, Brooklyn, New York

Pages: 5    Published: Jan 1989

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Abstract

The effect on flammability of endotracheal tubes exposed to helium diluted oxygen was measured by the Oxidant O² (He) index of flammability and compared to the corresponding oxidant O² (N²) indices of flammability. The oxidant O² (He) index of flammability for PVC (Portex) ETT is 0.274, for RR ETT 0.194, and for Si ETT 0.194. The differences between helium dilution values and the corresponding nitrogen dilution values are statistically significant, the greatest difference being a factor of 1.2. However the common clinical practice of adding helium as a diluent for oxygen in situations with a potential for flammability may not increase patient safety.