Objective:
This study aimed to compare the accuracy of the endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff pressure of the manual palpation (MP), passive release (PR), and minimum occlusive volume (MOV) techniques.
Methods:
This study is a true experiment with simple randomisation. The subjects of this study were 105 patients divided into 3 groups: MP group (n=35), PR group (n=35), and MOV group (n=35). After intubation, ETT cuff inflation was performed using 3 different techniques. The ETT cuff pressure was recorded using a manometer. The data were analysed using the chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Mann-Whitney test in the SPSS 20 software.
Results:
The mean ETT cuff pressure was 60.2±28.8 cmH2O in the MP group, 30.4±5.5 cmH2O in the PR group, and 25.8±9.6 cmH2O in the MOV group (p=0.000). The PR group had the highest pressure accuracy (77%) (p=0.000).
Conclusion:
The PR technique had the highest accuracy and can be used as an alternative ETT cuff inflation technique in the absence of a manometer.
Keywords: Airway management, endotracheal tube cuff pressure, ETT cuff pressure, general anaesthesia, manual palpation, minimum occlusive volume technique, passive release technique