Intraoperative Measurement of Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressure and Its Change During Surgery in Correlation With Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Palsies, Hoarseness, and Dysphagia After Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Study Design Prospective randomized controlled trial. Objectives Adjustment of endotracheal tube cuff pressure (ETCP) in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) may influence the incidence of complications such as recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy (RLNP), hoarseness, and dysphagia. Methods The prospective randomized controlled trial was designed to investigate the influence of ETCP on the incidence of postoperative complications. All eligible patients underwent vocal cord examination before and after ACDF and were randomized into a control group (CG) and intervention group (IG). Endotracheal tube cuff pressure was passively monitored in CG, and in IG, it was maintained at 20 mmHg. Outcomes were evaluated during hospitalization and during follow-up. Results A total of 98 patients were randomized, each group consisted of 49 patients. Statistical analysis showed that gender and age did not influence the incidence of complications. In CG, duration of retractor placement and extent of approach significantly impacted the occurrence of complications. The incidence of postoperative RLNP was 8.2% in IG and 12.2% in CG, hoarseness and dysphonia were present in 18.4% in IG and in 37.5% in CG, and dysphagia in 20.8% in IG and in 22.5% in CG. Hoarseness was significantly present more in CG ( P = .018). Only one patient from CG presented with RLNP after 1 year, the remaining nine patients spontaneously recovered. Conclusions Unregulated ETCP can lead to a significantly higher incidence of hoarseness; however, its improvement rate is 100%. The early postoperative complication rate was higher in CG, and after one year, 1 patient had RLNP and 1 patient had dysphagia.

Endotracheal Cuff Undersize Diagnosed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Case Report

We report a case that the airway can be completely sealed, when the endotracheal tube cuff pressure is 100 cmH2O. The diagnosis was made by the patient’s chest CT（X-ray computed tomography）, This case illustrates that the real cross-sectional area of airway from the case obviously exceeds the normal population.

The Effect of Transesophageal Echocardiography Probe Insertion in Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressure in Adult Cardiac Surgical Patients.

Background and Aims: Insertion of transesophageal echocardiography probe in cardiac surgical patient is a routine practice for surgical planning and decision making. However it may increase the endotracheal tube cuff pressure as it lies adjacent to the posterior wall of trachea. The aim of this study is to evaluate the changes in cuff pressure after insertion of the transesophageal echocardiography probe and after completion of initial manipulation of the transesophageal echocardiography probe during various examinations in adult cardiac surgical patients. Methods: Thirty six patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery requiring Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) monitoring were enrolled in the study. After induction of general anesthesia and endotracheal intubation cuff pressure were measured at 3 points of time; just after intubation (T1), after transesophageal probe insertion (T2) and after initial completion of TEE study (T3). The mean increase in cuff pressure at various point of time were compared. Results: The cuff pressure (mean±SD) at T1, T2 and T3 were 24.61±2.72, 30.22±5.61 and 32.25±4.45 cm of H2O respectively.The cuff pressure increased significantly from T1 to T2 (p<0.001) and from T1 to T3 (p<0.001). The cuff pressure was > 30 cm of H2O in 18 (50%) of patients at T3 which was readjusted back to 25-30 cm of H2O by with drawing air from the cuff. Conclusion: Endotracheal tube cuff pressure should be routinely monitored either intermittently or continuously after transesophageal echocardiography probe insertion till it is in situ and pressure should be readjusted to avoid unwanted complications.

Endotracheal tube cuff pressure: An overlooked risk

The endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff's principal function is to implement proper tracheal sealing at a pressure high enough to prevent both gas leak and fluid aspiration, and low enough to maintain tracheal perfusion. Clinicians are often concerned primarily with the volume of air required to inflate an ETT cuff. However, the most important factor is how much pressure will be exerted on the tracheal mucosa when the cuff is properly distended. Cuff over-inflation complications range from sore throat to tracheal ischemia with tracheal rupture and fistula formation. The ideal ETT cuff pressure has not been defined with a high degree of certainty however most anesthesiologists generally recommend a target pressure of 20 to 30 cmH2O. Although trachea-gas sealing can be achieved at ETT cuff pressure of 20 cmH2O, microaspiration can occur at a cuff pressure of 60 cmH2O. Since the introduction of cuffed ETT in the mid- 20th century, several modifications in the cuff's shape and material have been done to address these challenges. It has been proven that the pressure within the inflated cuff is a dynamic process. As such, various clinical factors will significantly impact the pressure reading. Thus, continuous regulation of ETT cuff pressure should be routine practice. Our review included 158 articles that addressed the background into the development of cuffed ETT, function and anatomy of the ETT cuff system, cuff pressure and sealing characteristics, ETT cuff pressure regulation, microaspiration, and factors affecting ETT cuff pressure. Key words: Endotracheal Tube; Cuff pressure; Microaspiration Citation: Al-metwalli RR, Fallatah SM, Alghamdi TM. Endotracheal tube cuff pressure: An overlooked risk. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2021;25(1):86–95; DOI: 10.35975/apic.v25i1.1445 Received: 2 November 2020, Reviewed: 24 December 2020, Accepted: 1 January 2021