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AR15.COM
11/26/2009 10:53:23 AM EDT
Question for the medics out there.

Does anyone know where I can get some combitubes or king tubes for cheap?

I have found them for sale for over $60 a piece but thats way too much IMO.

If anyone knows of any places Id greatly appreciate it. Thanks.
11/26/2009 12:19:46 PM EDT
[#1]
Combitubes and LMAs are pretty expensive. Depending on who you are, you may be able to get some for free from a local service if they have the ones with expiration dates on them.
11/26/2009 12:36:08 PM EDT
[#2]
If you work for a Fire/EMS dept you'd probably be able to get them through your supplier the cheapest. If not, check with your local Fire/EMS dept and see if they can get them for you but they probably wouldn't unless you've had the training.

If you're buying them for SHTF use don't bother. Your odds are pretty slim of getting somebody back without Advanced Cardiac Life Support(ACLS), especially if it's a trauma code. Spend your money on other, more useful things IMO.
11/26/2009 2:19:27 PM EDT
[#3]
We don't use combitubes any more.  King is a better product, so we switched to them.

Our prices for combitubes were never less than $62 EACH.  And that's tax-exempt, bulk purchase, with national contract price.  Every once in a while we could get them for $45, like maybe once a year, during regional EMS program group buys.  Now, all of this was two years ago when we switched to Kings.......

The King LTS-D we get for about $43/each.  That's through a national contract price, nationwide vendor (email me and I'll give you their name).  Problem with Kings is they come in three sizes, so you need three (although in my TEMS kit I carry the middle size, but I also carry ETT and surgical airway stuff, so not as important as on the trucks). However, when you replace them, you only replace the size you used and therefore they are cheaper in the long run.

If you tell us what your need is, maybe we can suggest alternatives (I never had a problem using an EOA...they even still make those?).

If you want, I can hook you up with a sales rep through our vendor...maybe get you good prices.  Email me.
11/26/2009 3:57:10 PM EDT
[#4]
Yeah they are really expensive.

I do like the king tubes much better but have had a harder time finding them.

Our protocols dont actually allow for their use, however Id like to get some for further training and firmiliarization.

As far as I know they do not stock them at the hospitals. I was hoping I could find some expired ones somewhere.
11/26/2009 4:49:49 PM EDT
[#5]
A lot of hospital ORs use LMAs.

If you are working outside your protocols anyway, you may be be better off just using ET tubes. A laryngoscope setup can be expensive, but the tubes can be had for a couple of dollars each.
11/27/2009 8:16:11 PM EDT
[#6]
Finally just pulled our EOA's off the trucks a year ago. We now have ET tubes and King airways, I do like the king's , quite expensive though.

They do still make the good ole EOA's
11/28/2009 12:43:34 PM EDT
[#7]
I have a bunch of Combi and King tubes and get them at a relatively inexpensive price since I purchase at volume and govt. pricing.
Are you looking for new ones for use in pt's or for training?
11/28/2009 10:51:33 PM EDT
[#8]
either or.
11/30/2009 4:06:34 PM EDT
[#9]
PM Sent
11/30/2009 5:20:47 PM EDT
[#10]
Quoted:
If you work for a Fire/EMS dept you'd probably be able to get them through your supplier the cheapest. If not, check with your local Fire/EMS dept and see if they can get them for you but they probably wouldn't unless you've had the training.

If you're buying them for SHTF use don't bother. Your odds are pretty slim of getting somebody back without Advanced Cardiac Life Support(ACLS), especially if it's a trauma code. Spend your money on other, more useful things IMO.


Positive outcomes from Trauma arrest are essentially zero.  

For what its worth, the King airways are far superior to the Combi-Tube in all aspects.  

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