Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
An endotracheal tube stylet is a thin, bendable rod that sits inside an endotracheal tube (ETT) to hold it in a chosen shape. It is used by clinicians who perform intubation, and bought by clinic, emergency and airway-cart staff who need to match the right stylet to the right tube. The main thing to know before ordering: stylet size labels are not universal, so two brands that both say “small” or “size 10” can fit different tube diameters.
What is a stylet for an endotracheal tube?
A stylet is a malleable guide placed inside an endotracheal tube so the tube keeps a curve suited to the airway. It is a single-use accessory in the products described here. It is different from an airway bougie, which is covered below. Who uses it: anesthesia and emergency clinicians, paramedics, and the staff who stock airway kits and carts. This page covers product features and sizing only, not how to place a tube.
How is an intubating stylet built?
The Medtronic Shiley intubating stylet has a malleable aluminum core inside a plastic sheath. The sheath carries a lubricated coating (Satin-Slip), the diameter is consistent along its length, and the product is not made with natural rubber latex or DEHP. The manufacturer says the sheath extends beyond the stylet tip, which it states helps reduce the risk of trauma if the stylet moves beyond the ETT tip (Medtronic product page, checked 2026-10-30).
The Ambu SureSight stylet is built for use with a video laryngoscope. Ambu lists a handle that keeps the stylet from protruding past the distal end of the tube, an atraumatic bent tip, and a stopper on the small size to suit various tube lengths. It is free of PVC, phthalates and natural rubber latex, and is listed as MR unsafe (Ambu product page, checked 2026-10-30).
Types and variants
| Type | Typical use | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| Malleable intubating stylet (example: Medtronic Shiley) | General orotracheal intubation aid; fits ETT 2.5 to 10.0 mm ID across the range | Sterile, single-use; aluminum core in a lubricated plastic sheath; sizes numbered 6.0, 10 and 14 |
| Video-laryngoscope stylet (example: Ambu SureSight) | Orotracheal intubation with the SureSight video laryngoscope, single-lumen tubes | Single-use, supplied non-sterile; sizes small, medium, large |
Stylet and airway bougie
FDA lists the stylet as its own device type: “Stylet, Tracheal Tube”, product code BSR, regulated under 21 CFR 868.5790 and classified as Class I (openFDA device classification, checked 2026-10-30). An airway bougie is a different tool. It is a separate introducer rather than a rod carried inside the tube, which is why reviews compare the two as alternatives. A 2021 systematic review and meta-analysis of tracheal tube introducers (bougies) and stylets in the prehospital setting (European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery) found both function as efficacious aids. With video technology, bougies showed a statistically significant first-pass advantage (RR 1.15, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.21); without it, the review reported no statistical difference in first-pass or overall success, and stylets were associated with shorter time to intubation. This is a research summary, not guidance for any individual patient.
Sizes and specifications that matter
Figures below are as listed by each manufacturer on 2026-10-30. Note that the same label maps to different tube sizes by brand.
| Product | Stylet size label | Listed ETT inner diameter | Other listed detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medtronic Shiley 85863 | 6.0 | 2.5 to 4.5 mm | Length 280 (as listed by manufacturer); 20 per box; sterile |
| Medtronic Shiley 85864 | 10 | 4.0 to 6.0 mm | Length 350 (as listed); 20 per box; sterile |
| Medtronic Shiley 85865 | 14 | Greater than 5.0 mm | Length 350 (as listed); 20 per box; sterile |
| Ambu SureSight | Small | 2.5 to 4.0 mm | Stopper for various tube lengths; non-sterile |
| Ambu SureSight | Medium | 4.5 to 5.5 mm | Non-sterile |
| Ambu SureSight | Large | 6.0 mm or larger | Non-sterile |
How to choose
Only criteria the manufacturers themselves state are listed here.
- Tube-size range. Check the manufacturer’s listed ETT inner-diameter range for each stylet size. Both manufacturers publish one, and they differ.
- Sterility. Shiley stylets are listed as sterile; the Ambu SureSight stylet is listed as non-sterile. Confirm what your protocol requires.
- Laryngoscope compatibility. The Ambu stylet is made for the SureSight video laryngoscope. See the guides on the laryngoscope and video laryngoscope for the instrument side.
- Materials. Both are listed free of natural rubber latex; Shiley is also listed DEHP-free and Ambu PVC- and phthalate-free.
Safe use and handling basics
- Both products are single-use; do not reuse them.
- Both manufacturers design against the stylet tip extending past the end of the tube (sheath extension on the Shiley, handle on the Ambu).
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use for the exact product, and your facility’s protocols.
- The Ambu stylet is listed as MR unsafe.
Tube sizing for the tube itself is covered in the endotracheal tube guide; blade sizes are in Macintosh blade sizes.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a size label is the same across brands. Shiley size 10 is listed for 4.0 to 6.0 mm tubes; Ambu medium is listed for 4.5 to 5.5 mm.
- Stocking a video-laryngoscope-specific stylet for a standard laryngoscope setup, or the reverse, without checking compatibility.
- Confusing a stylet with an airway bougie when writing a requisition.
Supplies for emergency airway and trauma response are listed under emergency and trauma supplies.
FAQ
What is the difference between an ETT stylet and an airway bougie?
A stylet is a malleable rod placed inside the endotracheal tube. A bougie is a separate introducer. A 2021 prehospital meta-analysis found both effective, with a first-pass advantage for bougies only where video technology was used.
Is an endotracheal tube stylet a regulated device?
Yes. FDA classifies “Stylet, Tracheal Tube” (product code BSR) as Class I under 21 CFR 868.5790 (openFDA, checked 2026-10-30).
Are stylet sizes the same between manufacturers?
No. See the sizing table: the same label maps to different tube inner-diameter ranges depending on the brand.
Are intubating stylets sterile?
It depends on the product. The Shiley stylet is listed as sterile and the Ambu SureSight stylet as non-sterile, both single-use.
Sources
- Medtronic, Shiley Intubating Stylet product page (https://www.medtronic.com/en-us/healthcare-professionals/products/respiratory/intubation/intubation-accessories/shiley-intubating-stylet.html), checked 2026-10-30.
- Ambu, SureSight Stylet product page (https://www.ambuusa.com/airway-management-and-anaesthesia/video-laryngoscopes/product/ambu-suresight-stylet), checked 2026-10-30.
- FDA openFDA device classification, product code BSR (https://api.fda.gov/device/classification.json?search=product_code:BSR), checked 2026-10-30.
- Efficacy of tracheal tube introducers and stylets for endotracheal intubation in the prehospital setting: a systematic review and meta-analysis, Tollman J, Ahmed Z, Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 2022 (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9192420/), checked 2026-10-30.
