A Comparison of Passive Release Technique and Minimal Occlusive Volume Technique for Endotracheal Tube Cuff Inflation

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Inflation of an endotracheal tube cuff with adequate pressure is an important procedure. Passive release technique (PRT) is a useful and convenient method for inflating the cuff. To date, no study comparing this method with minimal occlusive volume technique (MOVT), one of the most commonly used methods for inflating the cuff, has been reported. We conducted this study for comparison of effectiveness, difficulty, and preference between the two methods. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, crossover, randomized study in which participants used each technique, one at a time. Participants inflated the cuff of an endotracheal tube inserted into a manikin after receiving brief education on use of the two methods. After inflating the cuff using each method, pressure and volume of the inflated cuff were measured using a portable manometer and syringes, respectively. Then, difficulty of each method was investigated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and preference for each method was investigated. RESULTS: A total of 47 participants were enrolled in the study. The mean pressure between the two methods was not statistically different (p=0.27). However, adequate pressure was achieved in 37 (78.7%) and 16 (34.0%) of participants in PRT and MOVT, respectively (p<0.01). The mean volume was 6.0+/-0.4 ml in PRT and 5.7+/-0.6 ml in MOVT (p<0.01). The VAS score for diffculty was 17.7+/-15.8 in PRT and 76.0+/-15.8 in MOVT (p<0.01). Preference for PRT was 46(97.9%) and that for MOVT was 1 (2.1%). CONCLUSION: PRT is an easier, more preferred, and more effective method for cuff inflation than MOVT.