Endotracheal Tube (ETT) is frequently used for GA (general anesthesia) to deliver oxygen and volatile anesthetic agents to the patient and serves as a channel for anesthetic gases. The ETT cuff helps in positive pressure ventilation and maintains an adequate seal between the endotracheal tube and trachea. Prolonged inflation of ETT cuff can cause ischemic changes of tracheal mucosa and other complications like postoperative sore throat (POST), hoarseness of voice, difficulty in swallowing, tracheal wall ulcer, stricture etc. Among these, the occurrence of sore throat after GA ranges from 21 - 65% Hence it important to measure ETT cuff pressure in intubated patients. The reliable and convenient way for this is using an ETT manometer, which is not readily available in most of hospitals in Pakistan.Many studies have focused on incidence of POST. Most of these studies have been done in western population and differences in various ethnicities are well reported . In Pakistan, air is widely used for ETT cuff inflation. If the results depict minimal cuff pressure changes and postoperative side effects with Xylocaine as compared to air, then it can be inferred that cuff pressure does not increase due to N2O when Xylocaine is used, hence, it can be safely used for cuff inflation eliminating the requirement of ETT cuff pressure monitoring and also the ETT cuff manometer, serving as a cost-effective alternative.
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Measurement of ETT cuff Pressure
Timeframe: From the time of intubation till extubation
Postoperative Sorethroat, Cough and Hoarseness
Timeframe: From extubation till 24 hours postoperatively