Effect of Body Position Changes on Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressure in Ventilated Critically Ill Patients.
Effect of Body Position Changes on Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressure in Ventilated Critically Ill Patients.
The endotracheal tube secures free airway in patients undergoing surgical procedures or mechanical ventilation. The extraluminal airway needs to be sealed by a cuff. The cuff needs to be adequately inflated with air. The cuff pressure should be between 20 and 30 cm H2O. A cuff pressure in excess of the target range is associated with a risk of tracheal injury, whereas a cuff pressure below the lower limit includes a risk of micro-aspiration of subglottic secretions, with risk of subsequent ventilator-associated pneumonia. It is unknown whether the cuff pressure changes following changes in body position of the patient. The objective of this study is to investigate to which extent - if any - cuff pressures change after body position changes of the patient.
Inclusion criteria are age 18 - 70 years, oral intubation with a taperguard EVAC endotracheal tube (Covidien®), conventional mechanical ventilation, adequate sedation (Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale -5) and analgesia (Behavior Pain Scale 3 to 4).
Exclusion criteria are factors with potential influence on the cuff pressure or factors that disturbed the safety or well-being of the patient: pregnancy, palliative care, difficult intubation, decreased mobility of the neck, history of neck surgery, temperature of <35°C or >37.5°C, morbid obesity (body mass index >35) and every potential contra-indication for position changes such as unstable spinal cord injury or hemodynamic and/or respiratory instability.