Introduction: The endotracheal tube cuff pressure must be maintained within an optimal range of 20-30 cmH2O, which ensures ventilation, prevents aspiration of secretions and guarantees a good tracheal perfusion.
Aims: To describe changes in the endotracheal tube cuff pressure over time through a continuous monitoring device, and assess the number of nursing actions.
Methods: Observation of 72 patients admitted to a general ICU and monitored for 12 hours, with a continuos monitoring device of endotracheal tube cuff pressure (PressureEasy(®)).
Results: During the first four hours 4 cases (5.6%) of underinflated cuff were observed, and 5 (6.9%) of overinflation. From the fifth to the eighth hour 7 (9.7%) patients showed a pressure <20 cmH2O, and 3 (4.2%) >30 cmH2O. During the last four hours 22 cases (30.5%) of underinflated cuff, and 4 (5.6%) of overinflation were observed. More than half of the patients (n=38, 52.8%) did not require any intervention of inflation or deflation of the cuff, 25 (34.7%) only one and 7 (9.7%) patients two, and twe patients, three. The majority of patients required the inflation of the cuff.
Conclusion: Our study supports the need of continuous endotracheal tube cuff pressure monitoring to promptly identify deviations from the pressure ranges, allowing their rapid correction.