[Protective endotracheal intubation to reduce endotracheal bacterial contamination].

Objective: To initially observe the effect of classical endotracheal intubation on endotracheal bacterial contamination and evaluate the validity of protective endotracheal intubation on reducing endotracheal bacterial contamination.

Methods: Ninety elective patients undergoing general anesthesia for hysterectomy were randomly assigned to two equal groups. Group II received endotracheal intubation protected by sterilized transparent sleeve while group I correspondingly adopted unprotective classical endotracheal intubation. Endotracheal swab sampling and bacterial counting were performed on the principle of aseptic processing before endotracheal intubation and extubation, respectively.

Results: Bacteria were found in 62 of 180 samples. The difference of bacterial counting between before extubation and before intubation was (-0.3 +/- 35.6) 100 CFU/ ml in group II, lower than that in group I, which was (21.4 +/- 56.7) 100 CFU/ml (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Endotracheal bacterial contamination may be caused by unprotective classical endotracheal intubation and could be reduced by protective endotracheal intubation.