A Comparison of Five Adhesive Tapes for Securing Endotracheal Tube in a Manikin

Background: Adhesive tape is the common method for endotracheal tube (ETT) secured to prevent tube displacement and unplanned extubation in an anesthesia setting. However, it is unclear which tape is superior for ETT fixation among the various tapes used in clinical practice. This study examines the force required to move 2 cm ETT and extubate ETT from an intubation manikin with five different adhesive tapes. Methods: We orally intubated an adult intubation manikin with an inner-diameter 7.5 mm ETT, inflated the cuff to 20 cm H2O. Then we secured ETT with five different adhesive tapes (Transpore tapeTM, Urgosyval tape®, TransporeTM White tape, Multipore tape, DuraporeTM tape) in a conventional fixation method. A digital force gauge was connected to the ETT and pulled in a direction erected to the oral cavity. We measured the force required to move 2 cm ETT and extubate ETT (defined as 5 cm ETT displacement) from the manikin. Data were analyzed with one-way analysis of variance, with P < 0.05. Results: DuraporeTM tape had the largest average force of 2 cm displacement (58.9 ± 5.7N) (P < 0.05). The extubation force of DuraporeTM tape (59.7 ± 4.9N) was larger than Urgosyval® tape (40.4 ± 2.9N) (P < 0.05), TransporeTM tape (48.7 ± 5.1N) (P < 0.05), Transpore WhiteTM tape (48.7 ± 5.1N) (P < 0.05). Conclusion: DuraporeTM tape was superior to the other four tapes (TransporeTM tape, Urgosyval® tape, TransporeTM white tape, Multipore tape) in holding the ETT in place in the manikin.