Endotracheal tube cuff pressure measurement techniques: safety and reliability among patients undergoing general anaesthesia for cesarean section. A prospective randomized comparative study

Abstract Objective This study aimed to qualitatively assess and compare some techniques involved in cuff inflation and its corresponding pressure estimations as well as associated complications among patient s undergoing general anaesthesia with intubation for cesarean section at the obstetric unit of the Tamale Teaching Hospital. Results Finger palpation of the pilot balloon, predetermined volume of air, and a pressure gauge were used to measure endotracheal tube cuff pressure after intubation . Associated side effects were determined after 24 hours of endotracheal tube extubation. Data for 384 patients were included in the analysis. Cuff pressure measured among patients varied from < 20 -30 cmH 2 O for the standard manometer group, 20 to 50 cmH 2 O for the predetermined volume of air group and < 20 to < 50 cmH 2 O for the finger palpation group. Side effects were recorded in 2.3 % of patients from the standard manometer group, 53.2 % from the predetermined volume of air group and 83.6 % from the finger palpation group. The findings of this study, therefore, suggested that finger palpation of a pilot balloon and a predetermined volume of air methods are prone to cuff over inflation and post-extubation airway complications.