Keyword
Just-seal volume, cuff pressure, cuff volume
Definition
- Inflation of the tracheal tube cuff with a volume that just prevents an air leak (“just-seal volume”)
- Cuff pressure varies greatly. Use of a monitor to maintain cuff pressure in the range of 25 to 30 cm H2O is recommended (palpitation is not a good guide to cuff pressure)
- Low pressure cuff or air leakage
- → pulmonary aspiration ↑, positive pressure ventilation X
- High pressure cuff
- → tracheal damage (mucosal ischemia), vocal cord dysfunction from recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, sore throat after surgery
- Cuff pressure can be changed after initial inflation. N2O -> cuff volume and pressure ↑