Comparison of the Orotracheal Tube Cuff Pressure Estimated by Palpation vs. the Measurement Taken with a Manometer

Abstract

The pressure exerted by the cuff of endotracheal tube (ETT) on the mucosa to be blown, should be kept in a safe range to avoid complications by on inflation or deflation. In our context, the objective measurement instruments are not commonly used. Objective: To evaluate the correlation between ETT cuff pressure estimated by palpation, and that obtained with a manual gauge in adult patients undergoing general anesthesia. Materials and methods: It was performed a cross-sectional study by obtaining the sample of adult patients undergoing general anesthesia requiring endotracheal intubation. We included forty patients who were intubated and then two blind anesthesiologists, other than the one who intubated, estimated insufflation of ETT cuff by palpation categorizing as over-inflated, normal or deflated. One of the observers subsequently, carried out the measurement of pressure with a manometer, both in inspiration and expiration. It was considered as normal pressure range 20 to 30 cm H2O. Results: The correlation of the estimation by palpation between the two anesthesiologists was weak (Kappa = 0.21, ES: 0.11). The correlation of the estimation by palpation and measurement with manual gauge was very weak. Between the first anesthesiologist and observers, in inspiration the . was 0.08 (ES: 0.09), in expiration was 0.08 (ES: 0.07), also between the second anesthesiologist and the observers, . 0.05 (ES: 0.07) and 0.02 (ES: 0.06) respectively. Conclusion: The study shows that the correlation between subjective and objective methods to determine if the cuff of ETT is properly inflated was weak. It suggests the use of more objective methods for its determination.