The LITA tube is an expensive way to perform the "Kempen technique" of lidocaine
installation via any  existing ETT. That LITA ETT has an injection port just
above the cuff, and you must have one of these expensive tubes in place to do
the lidocaine injection. My technique uses only ANY Standard ETT as the mode of
injection (see last post).
I have heard the statement: " I have never regretted NOT extubating a patient,
but have regretted an extubation". I personally do not agree with this as some
signficant pertubations can be caused by an in situ ETT. Also, although we take
great care in trying to "minimize hemodynamic pertubations at intubation" the
area regarding minimizing hemodynamic and respiratory pertubations at EXTUBATION
is often deemed a "fact of life" or otherwise acceptable consequence of avoiding
laryngospasm by waiting till awake.  I routinely assess the airway during
induction for the purpose of eliminating the ETT as soon as practical. LIdocaine
will obliterate the stimulus, which can become the cause of reflex=laryngospasm!
Traveling down the hallway to a distant PACU with an ETT or even LMA can lead to
significant hemodynamic and ventlatory pertubations in an unanesthetized airway.
Hence my personal preference to extubate as soon as possible in the OR and
observe to
assure airway patency in the spontaniously ventilating patient-some jaw thrust
can be required! At the same time if agent is eliminated early and after the ETT
tracheal tissues have been anesthetized, you can typically go to very minimal
level of anesthesia (i.e. N2O alone) or emerge the patient to "open your eyes
and stick out your toung" to then pull  the ETT without any pertubation. The
great thing is the ability to assess the numbness vie "the cuff Test" while the
ETT is still in and airway assurred!
Gotta try it to appreciate it. The key is hjaving a good 3 liter of gass pass up
through the cords while actively bagging at a pressure of 20-30 minimum to carry
the slowly injected 5 cc of 2% lidocaine up from the tip of the ETT toward the
tounge!

P Kempen
Cleveland