Title: Comparative study of effects of endotracheal tube cuff inflation by digital palpation method versus cuff inflation by pressure guage in patients undergoing surgeries under general anaesthesia after endotracheal intubation

Authors: Dr Kundan Kumar, Dr Ekramul Haque, Dr (Prof) Usha Suwalka

 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v8i3.33

Abstract

   

Background: Endotracheal intubation is a common procedure in routine anaesthesisa practice.  Inadvertently high cuff pressure of endotracheal tube may result in several complications. Method of cuff inflation is directly related to complications encountered. Two most common methods of cuff inflation is digital palpation method or by using pressure guage. Use of pressure guage for cuff inflation has been proved as better method in earlier studies.

Method: After approval from ethical committee at RIMS, Ranchi 60 patients were included in this randomized controlled observational study who were planned for general anaesthesia with endotracheal intubation. Patients were equally distributed in two groups. In one group cuff was inflated by digital palpation method and in another group cuff was inflated to 25cm H2O by using pressure guage. Both groups were compared with regard to occurrence of sore throat and hoarseness of voice just after extubation and after 24 hours.

Result: Occurrence of sore throat and hoarseness of voice was significantly low in pressure gauge group.

Keywords: Endotracheal intubation, cuff pressure, pressure guage, sore throat, hoarseness of voice.

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Corresponding Author

Dr Ekramul Haque

Associate Professor, Department of Anaesthesiology, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi