Figure 6.

Appearance of the distal end of unmodified and modified 16 Fr Salem Sump tubes after separate infusions of Osmolite and acid (1 mEq/h HCl) into a beaker. (a) Distal end of the tube after all fluid drained by gravity. Above the proximal aperture (white arrow), the tube is empty. Below the proximal aperture, the tube contains clotted Osmolite within the infusion channel and only two of the distal apertures remain patent (red arrows). (b) A modified 16 Fr Salem Sump tube was created by inserting an air-tight silicone plug (red arrow) just distal to the proximal aperture (white arrow). This tube had been wiped and drained as described above. There were no clots within the proximal aperture or the infusion channel above it. The tube distal to the plug contained clotted Osmolite, and some of the apertures were obstructed. (c) A silicone plug was placed just distal to the proximal aperture, and the distal chamber with its multiple apertures was transected just below the plug. The modified tube contained a single aperture. The tube had been wiped and drained as described above. Despite acid-induced coagulation within the beaker and clots that surrounded the tube as in part (a) above, no formula clotting occurred within the infusion channel or in its single aperture. The solid white line (yellow arrow) is the radiopaque marker in the wall of the tube.