Endotracheal tube cuff pressure monitoring in peripheral hospitals

Abstract

Background: An improvised monitor was designed in a peripheral hospital to measure the tracheal tube cuff pressures in patients intubated under anaesthesia. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of assessment of cuff pressure by the traditional palpatory method and to compare the improvised monitor with the standard monitor commercially available. The effect of nitrous oxide on the cuff-pressure was also studied. Methods: The tracheal tube cuff pressure of 80 patients undergoing general anaesthesia was assessed by palpation and measured with an improvised and standard monitor. Results: The study showed that the tracheal cuff pressure recorded were higher than normal tracheal perfusion pressure in 40% of the cases with satisfactory palpatory assessment. The pressures recorded by the improvised monitor were comparable to that of the standard monitor. The use of nitrous oxide resulted in increase in cuff pressures over a period of time. Conclusion: An objective measurement by any equipment is superior to assessment of cuff pressure by palpation. The improvised monitor can be used to give a fair idea of the cuff pressures, in places where a standard monitor is not available.