Open AccessSevered cuff inflation tubing of endotracheal tube: A novel way to prevent cuff deflation
Author(s) -
Amrut Krishnananda Rao,
Souvik Chaudhuri,
Tim Thomas Joseph,
Deependra Kamble,
Gopal Gotur,
Sandeep Venkatesh
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
al-banǧ. maqālāt wa abḥāṯ fī al-taẖdīr wa-al-in’āš
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 0259-1162
DOI - 10.4103/0259-1162.134523
Subject(s) - cuff , medicine , intubation , deflation , tube (container) , surgery , inflation (cosmology) , endotracheal intubation , anesthesia , engineering , mechanical engineering , monetary policy , physics , theoretical physics , monetary economics , economics
A well-secured endotracheal tube (ETT) is essential for safe anesthesia. The ETT has to be fixed with the adhesive plasters or with tie along with adhesive plasters appropriately. It is specially required in patients having beard, in intensive care unit (ICU) patients or in oral surgeries. If re-adjustment of the ETT is necessary, we should be cautious while removal of the plasters and tie, as there may be damage to the cuff inflation system. This can be a rare cause of ETT cuff leak, thus making maintenance of adequate ventilation difficult and requiring re-intubation. In a difficult airway scenario, it can be extremely challenging to re-intubate again. We report an incidence where the ETT cuff tubing was severed while attempting to re-adjust and re-fix the ETT and the patient required re-intubation. Retrospectively, we thought of and describe a safe, reliable and novel technique to prevent cuff deflation of the severed inflation tube. The technique can also be used to monitor cuff pressure in such scenarios.