Important information on Endotracheal Tubes

How safe is your breathing tube?

To the left is an advertisement from a major veterinary supply company and an "idea" from a major veterinary magazine.  SNVH thinks that this is an unacceptable standard of care (our tubes are shown above). Spice racks are for spices, not to dry and re-use my dog's breathing tube.
​

• There is no standard of care for veterinary anesthesia as there is for human anesthesia.
• Many vet practices reuse disposable endo-tracheal tubes (the "breathing tube" that goes into your pet's windpipe) to reduce costs.
• Not only are re-used tubes no longer sterile, reuse risks failure of the seal, which could allow fluid to enter your pet's lungs during the procedure.
• The medical team at Stratham-Newfields Veterinary Hospital are committed to client education and patient safety.  Your pet will always get a new, sterile endo-tracheal tube when at SNVH.

READ ON to find out more about what else we do to reduce risk with our endotracheal (breathing) tubes. 

This is the 42%.

This is what happens without lubrication.  Imagine that being bacteria or saliva getting into your pet's lungs. 

42% risk death?

This is a shameful statistic.  I'd hate to see the number that do use endotracheal tube lube that do not use sterile lube.  See the next panel for what can happen if your pet does not get proper intubation.

We care about the details.

This is from a veterinary journal* demonstrating the how a breathing tube that is properly lubricated will prevent liquid from entering the lungs.  Yet, 42% do not lubricate.

Additionally, we ONLY use use sterile, single use lubrication packets.
New, sterile tube.    New, sterile lube.    Every patient, every time. 

*Veterinary Practice News 2011