Assessing the correct inflation of the endotracheal tube cuff: a larger pilot balloon increases the sensitivity of the ‘finger-pressure’ technique, but it remains poorly reliable in clinical practice (original) (raw)
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Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice, 2013
Context: Endotracheal tube cuff pressure (ETCP) is recommended to be maintained between 20-30 cmH 2 O limits. While insufficient inflation of ETC may cause aspirations, over-inflation of it may lead to damage in tracheal epithelium. Aims: We planned to investigate the effects of user experience and cuff pressure inflation method differences following endotracheal tube cuff pressure and complaints about it. Patients and Methods: Two hundred and fifty patients planned for general anaesthesia were included in this study. ETC was inflated by users with different experience according to leakage or pilot balloon palpation techniques. ETCPs were measured by manometer at three periods (5 and 60 minutes after endotracheal intubation, and before extubation). Complaints about it were recorded in post anaesthetic care unit and 24 hours postoperatively. Results: Though we found experience of user had significant effect on the ETCP regulations, we observed inflation methods did not have any effect. However we found ETCP was higher than normal range with experienced users. A correlation was observed between cuff pressure and anaesthesia duration with postoperative complaints. Conclusions: Our study concluded that the methods used do not have any significant advantage over one another. While ETC inflated at normal pressure increases as user's experience increases, experience alone is not enough in adjusting ETCP. A manometer should be used in routine inflation of ETC instead of conventional methods. CP and anaesthesia duration have correlations with some postoperative complaints.
Anesthesiology Research and Practice, 2017
Background Both under- and overinflation of endotracheal tube cuffs can result in significant harm to the patient. The optimal technique for establishing and maintaining safe cuff pressures (20–30 cmH2O) is the cuff pressure manometer, but this is not widely available, especially in resource-limited settings where its use is limited by cost of acquisition and maintenance. Therefore, anesthesia providers commonly rely on subjective methods to estimate safe endotracheal cuff pressure. This study set out to determine the efficacy of the loss of resistance syringe method at estimating endotracheal cuff pressures. Methods This was a randomized clinical trial. We enrolled adult patients scheduled to undergo general anesthesia for elective surgery at Mulago Hospital, Uganda. Study participants were randomized to have their endotracheal cuff pressures estimated by either loss of resistance syringe or pilot balloon palpation. The pressures measured were recorded. Results One hundred seventy-...
Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research Journal, 2022
The purpose of this study is to compare routinely used cuff insufflation techniques to finger-pressure and minimal leak procedures for achieving safe endotracheal tube (ETT) intracuff pressures in patients undergoing endotracheal intubation. Methods: It is a prospective observational study conducted in patients undergoing elective surgical procedures under general anaesthesia at GITAM Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Visakhapatnam from January 2019 to June 2020. In Group FP, which includes 50 patients, the ETT cuff (ETTc) was inflated by palpating the pilot balloon between the index finger and thumb until it became taut. When this point was reached, the syringe was detached from the pilot balloon, and a cuff manometer was attached. The pressure reading on the cuff manometer is noted. In Group ML, which includes 50 patients, the ETTc was inflated fully, and then the air was withdrawn slowly from the cuff with auscultation over the trachea until a small leak was heard. When the point was reached, the syringe was detached, and a cuff manometer was attached; pressure readings were noted. Results: Mean inflation cuff pressure in the FP group was 45.40±21.74 cm H 2 O and in the ML group was 28.68±8.35 cm H 2 O. In Group FP, out of 50 patients, cuff pressure in 14 (28%) patients was in the normal range; in 32 (64%) patients, the cuff was over inflated, and in 4 patients (8%) cuff was under inflated. In the group ML, 24 (48%) patients have cuff pressure within the normal range; in 18 (36%) patients, the cuff has been over inflated, and 8 (16%) patients have low cuff pressures. Cuff pressure adjustment was required in 36 patients (72%) in the FP group, whereas 26 patients (52%) in the ML group. ML group has a low incidence of postoperative complications, i.e., 10%, compared to the FP group, i.e., 18%. A positive correlation was seen between the measured cuff pressure and body mass index, Volume of air insufflated. Conclusion: The main conclusion is to realize the need to use manometers or better-automated controllers during routine anaesthetic procedures.
Signa Vitae - A Journal In Intensive Care And Emergency Medicine
Introduction. Endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff pressure is not usually measured by manometer and the providers rely on their estimation of cuff pressure by palpating the pilot balloon. In this study, we evaluated the pressure of ETT cuffs inserted by emergency physicians or anesthesiologists, and assessed the accuracy of manual pressure testing in different settings using a standard manometer. Methods. In this cross sectional study, the cuff pressure of 100 patients in emergency department (ED) and intensive care units (ICU) of two university hospitals was evaluated by using a sensitive and accurate analog standard manometer after insertion of the ETT and checking the pilot balloon by the provider. All measurements were performed by a person who was blinded to the study purpose and an ideal pressure range of 20 to 30 cmH 2 O was used for analysis. Results. Emergency physicians (n=58) and anesthesiologists (n=42) performed the intubations. The mean measured cuff pressure in our study was 69.2±29.8 cmH 2 O (range: 10-120 cmH 2 O) which was significantly different from the recommended standard value of 25 cmH 2 O (P<0.0001, one-sample t-test). No difference was found between anesthesiologists and emergency physicians in cuff inflation pressures (Anesthesiologists = 71.1 ± 25.7; Emergency physicians = 67.9±32.6). Conclusion. Estimation of cuff pressure using palpation techniques is not accurate. In order to prevent adverse effects of cuff overinflation, it is better to recheck the pressure using a manometer, regardless of place, time and the inserter of the endotracheal tube.
Assessment of cuff presure during general anesthesia in adult patients
Revista Médica Del Hospital General De México, 2014
Background: The insufflation pressure of tracheal tubes is usually determined by the fingerpressure technique has low precision. The minimum leak technique is an alternative to determine whether the cuff is occluding the trachea with safe pressures (20-30 cm of H 2 O). Our group previously described that 43% of intubated patients had excessive cuff pressures (> 30 cm of H 2 O) when the finger-pressure technique was used. Objective: To compare the finger-pressure and minimum leak techniques to achieve safe intracuff pressures in patients undergoing endotracheal intubation. Data was analyzed with t-student and lineal regression. Methods: Adult surgical patients requiring intubation were randomized in two groups in which cuff insufflation was checked by either the finger-pressure or minimum leak technique. After insufflation, the intracuff pressure was measured using an aneroid manometer. Data analysis was performed to evaluate variables that may affect performance. Result: Our study included 286 patients (216 female) with a mean age of 44.6 SE ± 14.9 years. The mean insufflation pressures differed significantly between groups (finger-pressure, 36.9 SE ± 1.9 cm H 2 O; minimum leak, 25.3 SE ± 1.4 cm H 2 O; P < 0.0001). Each group had 35% of patients with pressures within safe limits. Using finger-pressure, 46% of patient had excessive pressures (>30 cm H 2 O). Using minimum leak technique, 42% of patients had insufficient pressures (<20 cm H 2 O). We found a consistent association between the intracuff pressure and the body mass index (r 2 = 0.223, P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Finger-pressure insufflation technique gave mean pressures 11 cm H 2 O higher than the minimum leak technique but no replace to aneroid manometer.
Journal of clinical anesthesia and pain management, 2022
Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine cuff inflation techniques and corresponding pressure estimations, as well as associated complications, in patients undergoing general anaesthesia with intubation for cesarean delivery at the Tamale Teaching Hospital's obstetric unit. Methods: Finger palpation of the pilot balloon, predetermined volume of air, and a pressure gauge were used to measure endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff pressure after intubation. Associated side effects were determined after 24 hours of endotracheal tube extubation. Results: Data for 384 patients were included in the analysis. Cuff pressure measured among patients varied from < 20-30 cmH 2 O for the standard manometer group, 20 to 50 cmH 2 O for the predetermined volume of air group and < 20 to > 50 cmH 2 O for the finger palpation group. Side effects were recorded in 2.4% of patients from the standard manometer group, 53.2% from the predetermined volume of air group and 83.6% from the finger palpation group. Conclusion: The finger palpation of a pilot balloon technique for cuff pressure estimation was unreliable and prone to cuff over inflation and associated with post-extubation airway complaints. Cuff pressure estimation using the standard manometer was associated with satisfactory patient outcomes.
Clinical Practice, 2018
Manual inflation of tracheal tube cuff after intubation is necessary to provide a safe airway in intubated patients. An increase or decrease in the pressure of cuff balloon leads to serious complications such as mucosal necrosis and micro aspiration. The aim of the study was to compare the endotracheal tube cuff pressure measurements before and after selected nursing care in emergency patients underwent pilot balloon palpation during cuff inflation. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional design was utilized in the emergency department at Al Manial University Hospital upon a convenient sample of 100 mechanically ventilated patients from April 2016 to June 2017. Demographic and medical data were collected. Later, the endotracheal cuff pressure was checked with manometer before and 15 minutes after each nursing intervention and data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20. Results: The majority of the studied sample was male with mean age 47.09 ± 15. Significant differences were detected regarding Endotracheal suctioning (t=16.99, p=0.000), Changing body position (t=2.76, p=0.026) and sedating patients (t=3.951, P ≤ 0.0001). As changing patients' body position to lateral sides, performing endotracheal and applying sedation caused a significant decrease in cuff pressure 15 minutes after. Conclusion: ETT cuff pressure was affected significantly with medical and nursing procedures and the pilot balloon palpation volume method was not suitable to estimate cuff pressure during intubation and the cuff pressure must be monitored and controlled by the manometers.
Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, 2015
Background: Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressure (ETCP) should be kept in the range of 20-30 cm H 2 O. Earlier studies suggested that ETCP assessment by palpation of pilot balloon results in overinflation or underinflation and subsequent complications such as tracheal wall damage and aspiration. Objectives: The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of an in vitro educational program on the ability of anesthesia personnel to inflate Endotracheal Tube Cuffs (ETT) within safe pressure limits. Patients and Methods: The survey included two series of blinded ETCP measurements in intubated patients before and two weeks after an in vitro educational intervention. The in vitro educational program included two separate trials. The anesthesia personnel were asked to inflate an ETT cuff inserted in a tracheal model using their usual inflation technique. In the same session, six ETTs at different pressure levels were examined by the participants and their estimation of ETCP was recorded. After the in vitro assessment, the participants were informed about the actual pressure of the in vitro ETCPs and were allowed to train their fingers by in vitro pilot balloon palpation with validated manometer measurements. Results: The mean ETCP after the in vitro survey was significantly lower than the mean ETCP before the intervention (45 ± 13 vs. 51 ± 15 cm H 2 O, P = 0.002). The rate of measurements within the safe pressure limits significantly improved after the in vitro education (24.2% vs. 39.7%, P = 0.002). Conclusions: Implementing educational programs with the introduction of estimation techniques besides the use of manometer as a standard intraoperative monitoring will improve the safety of the practice.
Journal of cardiovascular and thoracic research, 2017
Filling tracheal tube cuff (TTC) after intubation is necessary to provide a safe airway in intubated patients. On the other hand, excessive increase or decrease in the pressure of TTC's balloon leads into the dangerous complications such as necrosis and/or aspiration. Accordingly, in the present study, we tried to evaluate the most two common fixed volume and pilot balloon palpitation methods to control TTC pressure.In a prospective cross-sectional study that was carried out in the emergency department of Tabriz Imam Reza hospital upon 194 patients who needed intubation and from April 2015 to June 2016. The patients were randomly allocated into two equal groups. For the first the Pilot Balloon Palpation technique and for the second group 10 cc fixed volume cuff filling technique was assigned. After that, the pressure was checked with manometer and data were analyzed using SPSS software.TTC pressure average in fixed volume group was 44.96±21.77 cmH2O and for palpation group, it w...