RAE tubes
RAE tubes are named after their formulators Ring, Adair and Elwyn who described the use of their new oral preformed tube in pediatric cases in 1975( Ring etal., 1975). RAE tubes were designed with the intention to greaseintra-oral and some types of facial surgery by keeping the part of the ET tube outside of the case down from the surgeon's access.
FEATURES
The identifying point of RAE tubes in comparison to' standard' ET tubes is their differentpre-formed bend. Thepre-forming during manufacturing reduces the threat of kinking and inhibition which could do if a' standard' ET tube was bent into the same shape as a RAE tube. A black marker bar is ingrained on the tube at the point of maximum angle of the bend( see filmland below).
Oral RAE tubes are also described as' south- facing', i.e. the tube connector facing towards the case's bases after placement, while nasal RAE tubes are also known as' north- facing', i.e. the tube connector facing towards the case's head after placement.
RAE endotracheal tubes are else designed the same way as' standard' orotracheal tubes, i.e. they've the same left- facing scratched tip, Murphy eye, cuff design, and length/ periphery markings.
USES:
Oral RAE tube
The
suggestions for placing an oral RAE tube are purely surgical, i.e. its use
removes the tube connector and anesthetic breathing circuit from the surgical
field or access to the surgical field.
Nasal RAE tube
Again, the suggestions for placing this type of ET tube are substantially surgical as described over. The nasal RAE tube is also the' go- to' device for numerous interpreters when performing an( awake) nasal fiberoptic intubation.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
Disadvantages
of the RAE tube
One
disadvantage of the nasal( and indeed more so the oral) RAE tube is that depth
of tube insertion is veritably importantpre-determined by the tube'spre-formed
shape, i.e. the bend of the oral and nasal RAE will always want to sit just at
the lower lip and at the nostril independently, not allowing you important
inflexibility as to how deeply you can place the tube into the trachea. IN some
cases, especially veritably altitudinous or short bones , it might be delicate
to achieve a good tube' fit' together with the correct insertion depth which
avoids accidental bronchial intubation or cuff placement between the oral
passions.
For the oral RAE tube this problem can be avoided by using an armored/ reinforced tube instead. The armored/ reinforced tube can be bent just as much (and more) as the RAE tube without kinking and obstructing.
Securing the RAE tube
Securing the nasal RAE tube is described in the 'Securing the endotracheal tube' section.
The oral RAE tube is best secured by taping it (midline) to the skin between the lower lip and the chin. Use wide tape or a bio-occlusive dressing to get as big a surface area of contact between tube, skin and tape as possible.