The Evaluation of Upper Airway Complications Secondary to Intubation: Cuff Pressure Manometer Versus Conventional Palpation Method

Özet

Objectives: General anesthesia is preferred in most otorhinolaryngologic surgeries. The aim of the present study was to evaluateupper airway complications secondary to intubation including sore throat, cough, dysphonia, and dysphagia considering endotrachealtube (ET) cuff pressure, tube diameter, and duration of intubation.Methods: After the assignment of 67 patients to the study and control groups, ET cuff pressure was adjusted to be between 20and 30 cm H2O using a cuff pressure manometer in the study group. In the control group, the cuff pressure was decided by the anesthesiologistusing the conventional palpation method. Sore throat, cough, dysphonia, and dysphagia were compared betweenthe groups at 4, 8, and 24 h postoperatively.Results: Cuff pressure was significantly higher in the control group than in the study group. In the control group, sore throat wasmore frequently observed at 4, 8, and 24 h, whereas in the study group, cough and dysphonia were more often observed at 4 and8 h. At 4 and 8 h, cough was found to be related to the duration of intubation.Conclusion: Arrangement of cuff pressure using a cuff manometer is suggested to decrease complications of the upper airwaysecondary to intubation because of the higher rate of these complaints in patients whose cuff pressure is arranged by the conventionalpalpation method.