Effectiveness, Preference and Ease of Passive Release Techniques Using a Syringe for Endotracheal Tube Cuff Inflation.
- Author:
Kyung Choon PARK
1
;
You Dong SOHN
;
Hee Cheol AHN
;
Ji Yoon AHN
;
Seung Min PARK
;
Kwang Yun CHO
;
Hyuk Sool KWON
;
Gyu Chong CHO
;
Jung Tae CHOI
Author Information
1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea. medysohn@hallym.or.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Education;
Intubation;
Pressure
- MeSH:
Inflation, Economic;
Intubation;
Manikins;
Palpation;
Reference Values;
Statistics as Topic;
Syringes
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
2010;21(6):795-800
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Inappropriate cuff inflations cause many complications. A conventional pilot balloon palpation technique is insufficient to detect high cuff pressures, but is still preferred. Hence, we conducted this study to identify effectiveness, preference and ease of use of a new estimation technique named "passive release technique" for endotracheal tube cuff inflation. METHODS: Twenty-nine nurses inflated cuffs by a pilot balloon palpation technique in manikins inserted with a 7.5 mm endotracheal tube. Then, being educated about passive release techniques, they inflated cuffs using such a passive release technique. Intracuff pressures and air volumes were measured by manometers and syringes. Preference and ease of use between the two methods were scored using a 10-point Likert scale. RESULTS: For the pilot balloon palpation technique, only 4 nurses (13.8%) inflated cuffs within the normal range of pressures (normal: 15 to 30 mb) with an average of 39.3+/-34.0 cmH2O. For the passive release technique, 19 nurses (65.5%) inflated cuffs within the normal range of pressures with an average of 24.2+/-9.3 cmH2O (McNemar's test, p<0.01). In the pilot balloon palpation technique, inflated air volumes of 7.8+/-2.0 ml were not significantly different from inflated air volumes 8.5+/-1.2 ml (p=0.07) for the passive release technique. But the difference was found to be statistically significant in a variance ratio test (F-test) (p<0.01). In view of preference and ease of use between the two methods, mean values were not statistically different, 7.3+/-2.0 vs. 7.0+/-2.0 and 7.0+/-2.3 vs. 7.3+/-2.4, respectively. CONCLUSION: When direct intracuff measurement is not available, a passive release technique using a syringe is an effective and easy method to achieve cuff inflation.
