Endotracheal Cuff Pressures Generated by Different Members of the Anaesthesia Services in a Ghanaian Teaching Hospital

Copyright © 2013 Akwasi Antwi-Kusi et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution Li-cense, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Background: The main function of the endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff is to ensure a tight seal between the tracheal wall and the endotracheal tube to prevent stomach contents from entering the trachea during ventilation thus preventing as-piration. Whereas excessive inflation of the cuff is associated with complications as a result of impaired blood supply to the trachea mucosa, low inflation pressure puts the patient at risk of aspiration. This study sought to find the accuracy of correctly estimating the cuff pressure and whether experience has effect on the accuracy. Methods: After approval from the Ethics Committee, we observed 199 patients who had general anaesthesia and had been intubated at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi Ghana. Anaesthesia practitioners were blinded to the study. The endotracheal cuff pressure was measured using a low pressure manometer. The experience of the Anaesthetist was also noted. Results: Only 26 % of the cuff pressures measured were within the acceptable range of 20- 30 cm H2O. 4.5 % of the pressures measured were below the acceptable minimum value of 20 cm H2O hence exposing the patient to the risk of aspiration. 68 % of the cuff pressures measured were above the maximum pressure of 30 cm H2O. Physician anaesthetists were likely to inflate the cuff correctly. They had average inflation pressures of 24 cm H2O with minimum and maximu