Reported Reactions

Devices › Tube, tracheal (w/wo connector)

Device brand name · Tube tracheal w/wo connector

Portex Endotracheal Tube: medical device reports filed with FDA

281 reports name it, 2014–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Smiths Medical Asd. Product code BTR.

281
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 24 a year
25
reports, 12 months to August 2026
29 in the 12 months before
75.8%
classified as malfunction
76.6% across the product code
0%
classified as death, as reported
0 reports · not verified by FDA

FDA's MAUDE database holds 281 reports that name the brand "Portex Endotracheal Tube" (tube tracheal w/wo connector), received between September 2014 and July 2026; the manufacturer given most often on reports is Smiths Medical Asd. Spellings of one product vary from report to report.

25 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, down 14% from 29 in the 12 months before. FDA releases MAUDE data monthly; reports can arrive months after an event, so the newest months grow in later releases. The event types recorded are malfunction (75.8%) and injury (24.2%); across all tube, tracheal (w/wo connector) reports (product code BTR) death is recorded in 1.3% and malfunction in 76.6%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.

The device problems coded most often are leak/splash (20.3%), gas/air leak (11.7%) and inflation problem (10.7%). The patient problems coded most often are decreased respiratory rate, hemorrhage/blood loss/bleeding and respiratory insufficiency. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data."

Reports by month, five years

0510Sep 2021: 0Oct 2021: 0Nov 2021: 0Dec 2021: 02022Jan 2022: 3Feb 2022: 5Mar 2022: 3Apr 2022: 1May 2022: 0Jun 2022: 1Jul 2022: 0Aug 2022: 3Sep 2022: 3Oct 2022: 0Nov 2022: 0Dec 2022: 02023Jan 2023: 0Feb 2023: 4Mar 2023: 6Apr 2023: 6May 2023: 2Jun 2023: 5Jul 2023: 8Aug 2023: 2Sep 2023: 10Oct 2023: 0Nov 2023: 1Dec 2023: 02024Jan 2024: 0Feb 2024: 1Mar 2024: 0Apr 2024: 0May 2024: 0Jun 2024: 5Jul 2024: 2Aug 2024: 0Sep 2024: 5Oct 2024: 4Nov 2024: 3Dec 2024: 12025Jan 2025: 0Feb 2025: 2Mar 2025: 5Apr 2025: 3May 2025: 2Jun 2025: 2Jul 2025: 0Aug 2025: 2Sep 2025: 1Oct 2025: 0Nov 2025: 0Dec 2025: 02026Jan 2026: 2Feb 2026: 1Mar 2026: 4Apr 2026: 4May 2026: 4Jun 2026: 7Jul 2026: 2Aug 2026: 0

Reports by the month FDA received them. FDA releases MAUDE data monthly; reports can arrive months after an event, so the newest months grow in later releases.

By year received

030592014: 320142015: 32016: 1020162017: 72018: 5920182019: 432020: 3120202022: 192023: 4420232024: 212025: 1720252026: 24

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0%0
Injury24.2%68
Malfunction75.8%213
Other0%0
Not given0%0

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report100%281
Voluntary report0%0
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given0%0

Grey bar: all 19,171 reports carrying product code BTR. Event type is the filer's classification and is not verified by FDA.

Device problems coded

Device problem (FDA code)ReportsShareShare across product code
Leak/splashthe device leaked5720.3%7%
Gas/air leak3311.7%16%
Inflation problem3010.7%11.5%
Deflation problem176%4%
Material puncture/hole165.7%1%
Output problem134.6%0.1%
Material twisted/bent113.9%0.7%
Unintended deflation82.8%0.4%
Material too soft/flexible72.5%0.1%
Deformation due to compressive stress51.8%0.4%
Device markings/labelling problema problem with the device markings or label51.8%1.6%
Air leak41.4%5.4%
Connection problema connection problem41.4%1.8%
Defective devicethe device was defective41.4%0.5%
Disconnection41.4%3.9%
Material deformation41.4%0.9%
Breakthe device broke31.1%2.1%
Complete blockage31.1%0.2%
Fluid/blood leak31.1%0.8%
Inadequacy of device shape and/or size31.1%0.4%

FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report; one report can carry several. Generic codes such as "no apparent adverse event" are left out.

Patient problems coded

Patient problem (FDA code)ReportsShare
Decreased respiratory rate93.2%
Hemorrhage/blood loss/bleeding82.8%
Respiratory insufficiency41.4%
Airway obstruction31.1%
Aspiration/inhalation31.1%
Low oxygen saturation31.1%
Dyspneashortness of breath20.7%
Respiratory acidosis20.7%
Cardiogenic shockshock from the heart failing to pump10.4%
Chest painchest pain10.4%
Device embedded in tissue or plaque10.4%
Encephalopathy10.4%
Hypoventilation10.4%
Hypovolemic shock10.4%
Loss of consciousnesspassing out10.4%

Patient problem codes are present mainly in reports filed since 2019 and are often blank.

In context

MeasurePortex Endotracheal TubeProduct code BTRAll MAUDE reports
Reports28119,17126,136,888
Share of that pool—1.5%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports0139
Classified as injury24.2%19.9%36.2%
Classified as malfunction75.8%76.6%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer100%94.1%94.9%

Shares are of reports, not of devices in use. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data."

Other brands with product code BTR

BrandReportsLatest 12 monthsClassified as death
Shiley12,2361,5131.1%
Mallinckrodt3,10511.2%
TaperGuard9331240.4%
Curity664180.2%
Portex Tracheal Tube Clear Murphey Eyesoft Seal2431180.4%
Portex97080.6%
Portex Endotracheal Tubes223360.4%
Endotracheal Tubes - Airway Management20300%
Salter Labs168150.6%
Avanos170381.2%
Rusch28501.8%
Hudson RCI2241211.3%
Halyard156111.3%
Bivona768111%
Laryngeal Mask Airway61702.1%

Ordered by report count for navigation only. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data." FDA also states that "common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product."

Questions about Portex Endotracheal Tube reports

How many FDA reports name Portex Endotracheal Tube?

281 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 25 in the latest 12 months.

What kinds of events are reported?

malfunction (75.8%) and injury (24.2%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

leak/splash (20.3%), gas/air leak (11.7%), inflation problem (10.7%), deflation problem (6%) and material puncture/hole (5.7%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.

Who files these reports?

manufacturer reports (100%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.

Do these reports show that Portex Endotracheal Tube was at fault?

No. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data." FDA adds that "a causal relationship cannot be established between product and reactions listed in a report."

How do I report a problem with a medical device?

Through FDA MedWatch (Form FDA 3500 for health professionals and consumers), or to the manufacturer. See the guide on how to report.

Where this comes from. Counts are built from the openFDA Device Adverse Event (MAUDE) bulk export released 28 Sep 2026, which holds reports FDA received through 31 Aug 2026. Brand, generic and manufacturer names are as written on the reports; product code names come from FDA's device classification. A report counts here when any device it lists carries this brand name after punctuation and capitalisation are normalised. No report narrative, lot number, patient detail or reporter identity is published. See the methodology and sources; FDA's record is authoritative, and corrections are handled within five working days.

Drug data (FAERS) through 30 Jun 2026; device data (MAUDE) through 31 Aug 2026. Not medical advice.