Passive Release Technique Produces the Most Accurate Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressure Than Manual Palpation and Minimum Occlusive Volume Technique in the Absence of Manometer.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare the accuracy of the endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff pressure of the manual palpation (MP), passive release (PR), and minimum occlusive volume (MOV) techniques.

METHODS

This study is a true experiment with simple randomisation. The subjects of this study were 105 patients divided into 3 groups: MP group (n=35), PR group (n=35), and MOV group (n=35). After intubation, ETT cuff inflation was performed using 3 different techniques. The ETT cuff pressure was recorded using a manometer. The data were analysed using the chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Mann-Whitney test in the SPSS 20 software.

RESULTS

The mean ETT cuff pressure was 60.2±28.8 cmHO in the MP group, 30.4±5.5 cmHO in the PR group, and 25.8±9.6 cmHO in the MOV group (p=0.000). The PR group had the highest pressure accuracy (77%) (p=0.000).

CONCLUSION

The PR technique had the highest accuracy and can be used as an alternative ETT cuff inflation technique in the absence of a manometer.