The effectiveness of hourly cuff deflation in minimizing tracheal damage.

The efficacy of hourly endotracheal tube cuff deflations in minimizing tracheal damage has not been clearly established. Two investigations which specifically address this question arrive at differing conclusions. These investigations fail to report important variables which may have explained the difference in their results. The present study examined the effects of hourly cuff deflations in minimizing tracheal damage in mechanically ventilated, anesthetized dogs over a 72 hour test period. Variables which may influence tracheal damage were measured and reported. Three groups of dogs received either continuous cuff inflation, hourly 5 minute cuff deflations, or a continuous air leak. The air leak group had significanlty less damage than the continuous inflation group (P less than 0.05) and the hourly deflation group (P less than 0.01). There was no significant difference between the continuous inflation group and the 5 minute hourly deflation group.