87: Do Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressure and Volume Have a Linear or Nonlinear Relationship?

Abstract

Standard methods of endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff inflation may result in high intracuff pressure. If a logarithmic relationship between ETTc cuff pressures and ETTc volumes exists, addition of small volumes of air may result in dramatic increases in pressure after a threshold volume is reached. If a linear relationship exists, no such precipitous increase in pressure with additional volume would occur. We sought to determine if there is a linear or logarithmic relationship between ETTc pressure and ETTc volume.