SummaryA randomised study was carried out in 60 patients to assess the influence of tracheal tube tip design on the ease of railroading a tracheal tube duringfibreoptic intubation. A new design of tracheal tube with a tapered tip, without a bevel, was compared with a tracheal tube of standard design. The new design was found to be greatly superior in both oro-and nasotrachealJibreoptic intubation, when compared with the traditional tracheal tube ( p < 0.001). The shape of the tip of a tracheal tube is an imporiant determinant of the ease of railroading the tube over an insertedfibrescope.