Abstract

Endotracheal tubes (ETT) that we use now-a-days have high volume, low pressure cuff but hyperinflation of the cuff can cause inflammation of the endotracheal layer; ischemia or necrosis of the tracheal wall while under expansion increases the risk of lung aspiration, anaesthetic gas leaks, and environmental pollution. It is important to maintain proper cuff pressure when inflating the endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff, as serious adverse events can occur at both too high and too low cuff pressures. These an attempt had been made to evaluate the efficacy of ETT cuff pressure measurement using conventional clinical method of digital palpation of pilot balloon by comparing with instrumental method using standard cuff pressure manometer or AG cuffill instrument. A 20-30 cm water column cuff pressure is recommended to prevent aspiration and ventilator-related pneumonia. The study was conducted to evaluate the conventional practice of endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff inflation and pressure measurement as compared to the instrumental method using AG cuffill syringe. Methodology: The study was a comparative study, conducted in the department of anaesthesia, Gandhi medical college and hospital, Bhopal. The study population included patients planned for surgeries under general anaesthesia intubated with cuffed endotracheal tube. Patients with known laryngotracheal abnormalities were excluded from the study. Total of 100 patients were included for the study. The cuff of endotracheal tube was inflated with 10 ml syringe. After satisfactory inflation it was checked clinically by digital palpation of pilot balloon. Later within 5 minutes of induction cuff pressure was checked using standard AG cuffill Syringe. ETT cuff pressure of 20-30 cms of water was set as standard and pressures outside this were adjusted to this range.

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