Association between core body temperature and mean airway pressure with endotracheal cuff pressure in intubated patients of emergency department

Background & objective: Endotracheal intubation is routinely performed in the critical situations. In order to prevent microaspiration and tracheal injury endotracheal cuff pressure is important to remain constant between 20 and 30 cmH₂O. Positive pressure ventilation, duration of intubation, body temperature, and body movements can alter endotracheal cuff pressure. This survey was conducted to evaluate core body temperature and cuff pressure relation with airway pressure simultaneously.

Methods: This was a descriptive analytic study conducted from March 2018 to July 2018 on 150 intubated patients in the emergency department. All were ventilated with SIMV mode and had Ramsi sedation level of 2-3. Mean airway pressure was measured simultaneouly with core body temperature measurement from ventilator monitor. All these parameters were measured 10 times each hour and documented.

Results: There was a statistically meaningful relation between airway pressure and cuff pressure in the primary evaluation (P=0.02, r=0.19), while none of the subsequent evaluations showed meaningful relation (P>0.05). No significant relation was found between cuff pressure and core body temperature in any of the measurements (P>0.05).

Conclusion: The pressure of cuff should be checked repeatedly after intubation because of substantial variation over time. Factors other than core body temperature and airway pressure can influence cuff pressure.