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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Methods Used for Endotracheal Tube Cuff Inflation and Pressu...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2022; 12(22); 3076; doi: 10.3390/ani12223076

Methods Used for Endotracheal Tube Cuff Inflation and Pressure Verification in Veterinary Medicine: A Questionnaire on Current Practice.

Abstract: Endotracheal intubation is a routine procedure in veterinary anaesthesia, yet no consensus guidelines exist for endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff inflation and pressure measurement. The aim of this study was to assess current practice of ETT cuff inflation and seal verification in veterinary medicine. An online questionnaire was distributed among veterinary professionals who administer anaesthesia, comprising six demographic and twelve ETT cuff-related questions per species. N = 348 questionnaires were completed. Cuff pressure was measured by 30% of respondents in cats, 32% in dogs and 9% in both farm animals and horses. Anaesthesia diplomates were not more likely to measure cuff pressure than others, except in cats (OR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.1−2.9). The most frequently selected recommended range of cuff pressure was 20−30 cm H2O, regardless of species, although >30 cm H2O was selected significantly more often in horses compared to dogs, cats and farm animals. The preferred technique to verify cuff seal was minimal occlusive volume in dogs, cats and farm animals, whereas in horses, the preferred method was verification of normal capnogram waveform. ETT cuff pressure measurement remains uncommon in veterinary anaesthesia. The development of consensus recommendations for cuff inflation, including evidence-based target cuff pressure ranges for various species and different ETT models or materials, can help to improve practice.
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Publication Date: 2022-11-08 PubMed ID: 36428304PubMed Central: PMC9686819DOI: 10.3390/ani12223076Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research is a study concerning the commonly practised methods for inflating and verifying the pressure of endotracheal tube (ETT) cuffs in veterinary medicine. It reveals a lack of uniform set of guidelines for the process and emphasises the need for a consensus to improve current practises.

Overview of the Study

  • This research was conducted with the objective of understanding the common practices when inflating and verifying the pressure of endotracheal tube (ETT) cuffs in the field of veterinary medicine.
  • An enquiry was performed using an online questionnaire which was sent out to veterinary professionals directly involved in the administration of anesthesia.
  • The questionnaire was designed to glean information about the demographics of the recipients, as well as twelve questions specific to strategies related to ETT cuff procedures across several animal species.
  • Overall, 348 completed questionnaires were sent back to the researchers, providing a substantial dataset for analysis.

Key Findings

  • It was discovered that only a minority of respondents measure cuff pressure – 30% in cats, 32% in dogs, and a mere 9% in farm animals and horses.
  • The research also revealed that veterinarians who are anesthesia diplomates were no more likely to measure cuff pressure than others, except in the case of cats, where they were slightly more likely to do so.
  • The data showed that the most commonly recommended range for cuff pressure was 20-30 cm H2O, regardless of the species in question.
  • However, it was noted that higher pressures (>30 cm H2O) were used significantly more often in horses compared to dogs, cats, and farm animals.
  • The most popular technique for confirming a secure cuff seal was found to be the minimal occlusive volume method in dogs, cats, and farm animals, while in horses, practitioners preferred to verify via a normal capnogram waveform.

Implications

  • This study concludes that ETT cuff pressure measurement is still not a common practice in veterinary anesthesia.
  • The results highlight the need for the development of consensus recommendations for cuff inflation in veterinary medicine.
  • Such recommendations must include evidence-based target cuff pressure ranges for various species and also take into consideration different ETT models or materials.
  • This work will help to standardise and improve practices in veterinary anaesthesia, ensuring consistently optimal outcomes for animal patients across the field.

Cite This Article

APA
Veen I, de Grauw JC. (2022). Methods Used for Endotracheal Tube Cuff Inflation and Pressure Verification in Veterinary Medicine: A Questionnaire on Current Practice. Animals (Basel), 12(22), 3076. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12223076

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 22
PII: 3076

Researcher Affiliations

Veen, Iris
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
de Grauw, Janny C
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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