A protective textile sleeve (10; 10'; 110), comprising: a braided, tubular wall (12; 12'; 112; 212; 312; 412; 512; 612; 712; 812) extending lengthwise in relation to a central longitudinal axis between opposite ends , said wall (12; 12'; 112; 212; 312; 412; 512; 612; 712; 812) further including braided, heat-set yarns (20; 120; 220; 320; 420; 520; 620; 720; 820); characterised in that said wall (12; 12'; 112; 212; 312; 412; 512; 612; 712; 812) has at least one opening integrally formed therein, said at least one opening having a circumferentially continuous periphery , said wall (12; 12'; 112; 212; 312; 412; 512; 612; 712; 812) is bi-stable in a first state with a decreased length (L1), increased cross-sectional area (D1) and a second state with an increased length (L2), decreased cross-sectional area (D2), as viewed in cross-section taken generally transversely to said central longitudinal axis , and the braided, heat-set yarns (20; 120; 220; 320; 420; 520; 620; 720; 820) impart a bias on said wall (12; 12'; 112; 212; 312; 412; 512; 612; 712; 812), said bias causing said wall (12; 12'; 112; 212; 312; 412; 512; 612; 712; 812) to remain substantially in said first and second states absent some externally applied force; wherein at least some of said heat-set yarns (20; 120; 220; 320; 420; 520; 620; 720; 820) are braided as bundles (21; 221; 321', 321"; 421, 421'; 521; 621; 721; 821), said bundles (21; 221; 321', 321"; 421, 421'; 521; 621; 721; 821) including a plurality of yarns (20; 120, 124; 220, 224; 320, 324; 420, 424; 520, 524; 620, 624; 720, 724; 820, 824) twisted with one another; and wherein at least some said bundles (21; 221; 321', 321"; 421, 421'; 521; 621; 721; 821) have loops (22; 222; 322; 422; 522) interlinked with loops (22; 222; 322; 422; 522) of another bundle (21; 221; 321', 321"; 421, 421'; 521; 621; 721; 821). a braided, tubular wall (12; 12'; 112; 212; 312; 412; 512; 612; 712; 812) extending lengthwise in relation to a central longitudinal axis between opposite ends , said wall (12; 12'; 112; 212; 312; 412; 512; 612; 712; 812) further including braided, heat-set yarns (20; 120; 220; 320; 420; 520; 620; 720; 820); characterised in that said wall (12; 12'; 112; 212; 312; 412; 512; 612; 712; 812) has at least one opening integrally formed therein, said at least one opening having a circumferentially continuous periphery , said wall (12; 12'; 112; 212; 312; 412; 512; 612; 712; 812) is bi-stable in a first state with a decreased length (L1), increased cross-sectional area (D1) and a second state with an increased length (L2), decreased cross-sectional area (D2), as viewed in cross-section taken generally transversely to said central longitudinal axis , and the braided, heat-set yarns (20; 120; 220; 320; 420; 520; 620; 720; 820) impart a bias on said wall (12; 12'; 112; 212; 312; 412; 512; 612; 712; 812), said bias causing said wall (12; 12'; 112; 212; 312; 412; 512; 612; 712; 812) to remain substantially in said first and second states absent some externally applied force; wherein at least some of said heat-set yarns (20; 120; 220; 320; 420; 520; 620; 720; 820) are braided as bundles (21; 221; 321', 321"; 421, 421'; 521; 621; 721; 821), said bundles (21; 221; 321', 321"; 421, 421'; 521; 621; 721; 821) including a plurality of yarns (20; 120, 124; 220, 224; 320, 324; 420, 424; 520, 524; 620, 624; 720, 724; 820, 824) twisted with one another; and wherein at least some said bundles (21; 221; 321', 321"; 421, 421'; 521; 621; 721; 821) have loops (22; 222; 322; 422; 522) interlinked with loops (22; 222; 322; 422; 522) of another bundle (21; 221; 321', 321"; 421, 421'; 521; 621; 721; 821). <EOS>