Profile Soft-Seal Cuff, a new endotracheal tube, effectively inhibits an increase in the cuff pressure through high compliance rather than low diffusion of nitrous oxide
F. Karasawa et al., Profile Soft-Seal Cuff, a new endotracheal tube, effectively inhibits an increase in the cuff pressure through high compliance rather than low diffusion of nitrous oxide, ANESTH ANAL, 92(1), 2001, pp. 140-144
Citations number
17
Categorie Soggetti
Aneshtesia & Intensive Care","Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
We assessed the nitrous oxide (N2O) gas-barrier properties of a new endotra
cheal tube cuff, the Profile Soft-Seal Cuff (PSSC) (Sims Porter, Kent, UK).
The tracheas of randomly selected patients were intubated with the Trachel
on (Terumo, Tokyo, Japan), Profile Cuff (PC) (Sims Porter), or PSSC (n = 15
for each) endotracheal tube. Cuffs were inflated with air, and intracuff p
ressure was measured during anesthesia with 67% N2O. The concentration of N
2O in cuffs was measured at the end of anesthesia. Postoperative sore throa
t was assessed. The volume-pressure relationship and thickness of the cuff
were also measured. Cuff pressure, which increased gradually during anesthe
sia, was significantly less in the PSSC and PC groups than in the Trachelon
group. The PSSC had smaller pressure than the PC 120 min after the start o
f anesthesia (P <0.05). There were no significant differences in the N2O co
ncentration in cuffs among the groups, although the PSSC had the thinnest c
uff with the highest compliance. The incidence of postoperative sore throat
in the Trachelon group was significantly higher than in the other two grou
ps. In summary, the PSSC effectively inhibits an increase in cuff pressure
during anesthesia with N2O. The underlying mechanism is probably the higher
compliance of the thinner cuff, rather than a reduction in N2O diffusion i
nto the cuff.