@article {PavlisaPA2147, author = {Gordana Pavlisa and Hrvoje Puretic and Ervin Zuljevic and Andrea Vukic Dugac and Ana Hecimovic and Marko Jakopovic and Miroslav Samarzija}, title = {The impact of routine intensive care procedures on the endotracheal tube cuff pressure}, volume = {48}, number = {suppl 60}, elocation-id = {PA2147}, year = {2016}, doi = {10.1183/13993003.congress-2016.PA2147}, publisher = {European Respiratory Society}, abstract = {Background: During mechanical ventilation the endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff pressure should be maintained in the range of 20-30 cmH2O to prevent ETT - related complications. ETT - cuff underinflation increases the risk of aspiration of oropharyngeal secretions and air leakage, while overinflation increases the risk of tracheal wall damage.Aims: To assess the impact of changes in body position and routine intensive care unit (ICU) procedures (endotracheal suctioning and bronchoscopy) on ETT - cuff pressure.Methods: Twelve critically ill adult patients were included in the study. All patients were orally intubated and mechanicaly ventilated by pressure controle mode. Cuff pressure was set to 25 cmH2O in each patient while in neutral position (supine, head of the bed elevated to 40o). Cuff pressures were measured after right and left lateral patient positioning, closed endotracheal suctioning and bronchoscopy.Results: The cuff pressure, on average, decreased after right and left lateral patient positioning by 7.83 (p\<0.001) and 6.92 cmH20 (p\<0.001), respectively. The avarage cuff pressure decreased by 5.75 cmH2O (p\<0.001) after closed endotracheal suctioning, and by 7.42 cmH2O (p\<0.001) after bronchoscopy. 41.7 \% of measurement were below 20 cmH2O.Conclusions: Routine ICU procedures and changes of body positions significantly impact the ETT cuff pressure in patients receiving mechanical ventilation. To reduce ETT {\textendash} related complications, cuff pressure measurement should be performed after every procedure. To maintain cuff pressure in the optimal range, the continuous endotracheal cuff pressure control system could be used.}, issn = {0903-1936}, URL = {https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/48/suppl_60/PA2147}, eprint = {https://erj.ersjournals.com/content}, journal = {European Respiratory Journal} }