NO TUBE of proper size, consistency, and length has been available for intestinal intubation of newborn and young infants. In the past only gastric intubation with a No. 8 F. catheter or a No. 10 F. Levin tube was possible. This note presents our experience with an intestinal tube suitable for newborn infants.
The tube described is a modification of the Harris design,* made with a new polyvinyl tubing instead of rubber. It has the consistency of a rubber catheter of equal size, but its thinner wall provides a larger bore. Polyvinyl tubing can be boiled without damage, but autoclaving is impracticable, since it alters the physical properties of the tubing.
The accompanying Table illustrates the comparative sizes of the No. 8 F. urethral catheter, No. 10 F. Levin tube, No. 12 F. Miller-Abbott tube, and our No. 8 F. polyvinyl intestinal tube. The No. 8 F. urethral catheter is