Achieving the Recommended Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressure: A Randomized Control Study Comparing Loss of Resistance Syringe to Pilot Balloon Palpation

Airway ultrasound to detect subglottic secretion above endotracheal tube cuff

BACKGROUND

Subglottic secretion had been proven as one of the causes of microaspiration and increased risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). The role of ultrasound to detect subglottic secretion has not yet been established.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to determine the sensitivity and specificity of upper airway ultrasound (US) in the detection of subglottic secretions as compared to computed tomography (CT) scanning.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A prospective observational study was carried out in adult trauma patients requiring mechanical ventilation and cervical CT scan. All patients had an endotracheal tube cuff-pressure maintained between 20 and 30 cm H₂O. Airway US was performed at the bedside immediately before the patient was transferred to the CT scan suite. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive/negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) of the upper airway US detection of subglottic secretions were then calculated and compared with CT findings.

RESULTS

Fifty participants were consecutively included. Subglottic secretions were detected in 31 patients using upper airway US. The sensitivity and specificity of upper airway US in detecting subglottic secretion were 96.7% and 90%, respectively (PPV 93.5%, NPV 94.7%). 18 (58%) patients with subglottic secretions developed VAP during their ICU stay (p = 0.01). The area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) was 0.977 (95% CI 0.936-1.00).

CONCLUSIONS

Upper airway US is a useful tool for detecting subglottic secretions with high sensitivity and specificity.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

This study shows: 1. Upper airway US may aid in detecting subglottic secretions, which are linked to VAP. 2. Detecting subglottic secretions at the bedside aids in determining the best frequency of subglottic aspiration to clean the subglottic trachea. 3. Upper airway US may also aid in detecting the correct ETT position. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov identifier NCT04739878 Date of registration 2nd May 2021 URL of trial registry record https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04739878 .

Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressures in the Operating Room of a Pediatric Hospital: A Quality Improvement Initiative

Endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff pressures are frequently out of the recommended range of 20-30 cm H₂O. This can lead to multiple iatrogenic complications ranging from cough, sore throat, and tracheal edema to more serious medical issues such as tracheal stenosis, aspiration, nerve injuries, and tracheal rupture. Additionally, current methods to inflate ETT cuffs vary between anesthesia providers and are not consistent in the recommended range. The objective of this quality improvement project was to increase the percentage of cuff pressures between 20 and 30 cm H₂O.

METHODS

Four plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles were completed in the operating rooms at Nationwide Children's Hospital over 9 months to assess ways to improve the accuracy of obtaining recommended ETT cuff pressures. Control charts were used to evaluate the primary outcome measure.

RESULTS

Preimplementation, ETT cuff pressures were out of the recommended range 76% of the time. Cuff pressures were out of the recommended range 64% of the time with the addition of the air method, 84% of the time in the tidal volume ratio cycle, and 50% of the time using the removal of air technique. The removal of air method was the most effective in achieving cuff pressures within the recommended pressure range (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Using quality improvement methodology, the percentage of ETT cuff pressures falling within the recommended pressure range increased using the removal of air technique. This approach is a simple and practical method that can be easily implemented in the clinical setting and would provide additional safety in the anesthetic management of pediatric patients.

Methods Used for Endotracheal Tube Cuff Inflation and Pressure Verification in Veterinary Medicine: A Questionnaire on Current Practice

Endotracheal intubation is a routine procedure in veterinary anaesthesia, yet no consensus guidelines exist for endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff inflation and pressure measurement. The aim of this study was to assess current practice of ETT cuff inflation and seal verification in veterinary medicine. An online questionnaire was distributed among veterinary professionals who administer anaesthesia, comprising six demographic and twelve ETT cuff-related questions per species. N = 348 questionnaires were completed. Cuff pressure was measured by 30% of respondents in cats, 32% in dogs and 9% in both farm animals and horses. Anaesthesia diplomates were not more likely to measure cuff pressure than others, except in cats (OR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.1−2.9). The most frequently selected recommended range of cuff pressure was 20−30 cm H2O, regardless of species, although >30 cm H2O was selected significantly more often in horses compared to dogs, cats and farm animals. The preferred technique to verify cuff seal was minimal occlusive volume in dogs, cats and farm animals, whereas in horses, the preferred method was verification of normal capnogram waveform. ETT cuff pressure measurement remains uncommon in veterinary anaesthesia. The development of consensus recommendations for cuff inflation, including evidence-based target cuff pressure ranges for various species and different ETT models or materials, can help to improve practice.

Nursing care recommendation for pediatric COVID-19 patients in the hospital setting: A brief scoping review

BACKGROUND

The hospitalization of children during the COVID-19 pandemic has affected their physical and mental health. Pediatric nurses have faced challenges in providing high-quality nursing care for children and their families. However, the pediatric nursing care recommendations for COVID-19 patients in the hospital setting remain unclear. The current scoping review provides recommendations for nursing interventions for pediatric COVID-19 patients in the hospital setting.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

The selected articles containing management and nursing recommendations for COVID-19 that have occurred in pediatric patients ages 0-19 years old. A search strategy was developed and implemented in seven databases. We included peer-reviewed articles that reported observational or interventional studies, as well as policy papers, guides or guidelines, letters and editorials, and web articles. A total of 134 articles and other documents relevant to this review were included. We categorized the results based on The Nursing Intervention Classification (NIC) taxonomy which consists of six domains (e.g., Physiological: Basic); eleven classes (e.g., Nutrition Support); and eighteen intervention themes (e.g., Positioning, Family Presence Facilitation, Family Support, and Discharge Planning).

CONCLUSION

Apart from the intervention of physical problems, there is a need to promote patient- and family-centered care, play therapy, and discharge planning to help children and families cope with their new situation.

Novel expandable architected breathing tube for improving airway securement in emergency care

Life-saving interventions utilize endotracheal intubation to secure a patient's airway, but performance of the clinical standard of care endotracheal tube (ETT) is inadequate. For instance, in the current COVID-19 crisis, patients can expect prolonged intubation. This protracted intubation may produce health complications such as tracheal stenosis, pneumonia, and necrosis of tracheal tissue, as current ETTs are not designed for extended use. In this work, we propose an improved ETT design that seeks to overcome these limitations by utilizing unique geometries which enable a novel expanding cylinder. The mechanism provides a better distribution of the contact forces between the ETT and the trachea, which should enhance patient tolerability. Results show that at full expansion, our new ETT exerts pressures in a silicone tracheal phantom well within the recommended standard of care. Also, preliminary manikin tests demonstrated that the new ETT can deliver similar performance in terms of air pressure and air volume when compared with the current gold standard ETT. The potential benefits of this new architected ETT are threefold, by limiting exposure of healthcare providers to patient pathogens through streamlining the intubation process, reducing downstream complications, and eliminating the need of multiple size ETT as one architected ETT fits all.

Comparison of four inflation techniques on endotracheal tube cuff pressure using a feline airway simulator

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to compare four inflation techniques on endotracheal tube cuff (ETC) pressure using a feline airway simulator.

METHODS

Ten participants used four different endotracheal cuff inflation techniques to inflate the cuff of a low-pressure, high-volume endotracheal tube within a feline airway simulator. The simulator replicated an average-sized feline trachea, intubated with a 4.5 mm endotracheal tube, connected to a circle breathing system and pressure-controlled ventilation with oxygen and medical air. Participants inflated the ETC: by pilot balloon palpation (P); by instilling the minimum occlusive volume (MOV) required for loss of airway leaks during mechanical ventilation; until a passive release of pressure with use of a loss-of-resistance syringe (LOR); and with use of a syringe with a digital pressure reader (D) specifically designed for endotracheal cuff inflation. Intracuff pressure was measured by a manometer obscured to participants. The ideal pressure was considered to be between 20 and 30 cmH2O. Data were analysed by Shapiro-Wilk, Kruskal-Wallis and χ2 tests, as appropriate.

RESULTS

Participants were eight veterinarians and two veterinary nurses with additional training in anaesthesia. Measured median intracuff pressures for P, MOV, LOR and D, respectively, were 25 cmH2O (range 4-74 cmH2O), 41 cmH2O (range 4-70 cmH2O), 31 cmH2O (range 18-64 cmH2O) and 22 cmH2O (range 20-30 cmH2O). D performed significantly better (P <0.001) than all other techniques, with no difference between the other techniques.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Use of D for cuff inflation achieved optimal cuff pressures. There may be high operator-dependent variability in the cuff pressures achieved with the use of P, MOV or LOR inflation techniques. As such, a cuff manometer is recommended when using any of these techniques.

Measuring endotracheal tube intracuff pressure: no room for complacency

Tracheal intubation constitutes a routine part in the care of critically ill and anaesthetised patients. Prolonged use of endotracheal with inflated cuff is one of the major multifactorial causes of complications. Both under-inflation and over-inflation of cuff are associated with complications. Despite known problems, regular measurement of cuff pressure is not routine, and it is performed on an ad hoc basis.

The Changes of Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressure during Manual and Intermittent Controlling in Intensive Care Units

BACKGROUND

Usually, the endotracheal tube cuff pressure is controlled by cuff pressure monitoring. However, the intermittent pilot-manometer connection and disconnection may cause a change in the adjusted pressure. This study aimed to investigate changes in the endotracheal tube cuff pressure using both manual and intermittent controls.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A semi-experimental within-subject design was conducted. Fifty-nine intubated patients in the Mazandaran Intensive Care Units (ICUs) participated through convenience sampling in 2018. In the control condition, first, the cuff pressure was adjusted in 25 cm H2O then it was measured without manometer-pilot disconnection at 1 and 5 min intervals. In the intervention condition, cuff pressure was immediately adjusted in 25 cm H2O then it was measured with manometer-pilot disconnection in the 1st and 5th minutes. Data analysis was performed using Independent t-test, Chi-square test, and Phi coefficient.

RESULTS

The mean and Standard Deviation (SD) change of cuff pressure after 1 minute, from 25 cm H2O, in the intervention condition was 20.22 (3.53) cm H2O. The mean (SD) of this change in the control condition was 25.22 (3.39) cm H2O. This difference was significant (t 116 = 7.83, p < 0.001, d = 1.44). The mean (SD) change of cuff pressure after 5 minutes, from 25 cm H2O, in the intervention condition was 19.11 (2.98) cm H2O. The mean (SD) of this change in the control condition was 25.47 (4.53) cm H2O. This difference was significant (t 116 = 9.24, p < 0.001, d = 1.70).

CONCLUSIONS

The tracheal tube cuff pressure has been significantly reduced during manual intermittent measuring. Therefore, it is suggested that continuous cuff pressure monitoring and regulation should be used.