Effect of cuffed endotracheal tubes on tracheal mucous velocity.

The inflated cuffed endotracheal tube produces a significant depression of tracheal mucous velocity in anesthetized dogs after one hour. This effect occurs with bot low and high compliance cuffs but is not observed with an uncuffed tube. This phenomenon is another factor that must be considered in establishing criteria for the frequency of cuff deflation in patients supported by mechanical ventilators.