Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressures Health, Medicine, Nursing Essay

ENDOTRACHEAL TUBE CUFF PRESSURES
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ENDOTRACHEAL TUBE CUFF PRESSURES
Introduction
Intubation is a crucial procedure in the management of patients who need urgent and sustained critical care. Intubation is a way of providing artificial airway. However, there are a lot of pitfalls that negatively influence the role of intubation in healthcare; one such problem revolves around endotracheal tube cuff pressures whose lack of control can lead to health complications as a result of either over-inflation or under-inflation. Endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff pressure-related challenges include risk of aspiration, ventilated associated pneumonia, and tracheal mucosal injury and stenosis. There is an alarming concern on the concept of ETT cuff pressure despites its deleterious consequences when its evidenced-based practices are violated. This paper is a culmination of guidelines, protocols, and literature review, which provide a concise explanation of ETT cuff pressure concepts from diverse standpoints.
I find the research on endotracheal cuff pressure highly relevant because it touches on perioperative care and anesthesia, which are my areas of interest. I perceived the concept of ETT cuff pressures as a largely ignored aspect, yet it plays a critical role in ensuring better health outcomes for the patients.
Overview
Intubation is a common medical practice in healthcare setups that host critically ill patients. It is a process that is well pronounced in intensive care units, anesthesia, and perioperative units. The endotracheal tube (ETT) is a flexible tube that is passed through the mouth into the trachea. The insertion process of ETT into a patient’s tracheas is defined as intubation. The purpose of ETT is to aid a patient in breathing mainly by maintaining the patency of the trachea. The ETT is connected to the ventilator; thus, it acts as a passageway that delivers oxygen from the ventilator to the patient’s lungs. Intubation is ordinarily done during trauma, surgery under general anesthesia, upper respiratory airway diseases, partial or complete airway obstruction, and any other severe illness that can impair blood oxygenation. Patients undergoing surgery often require the insertion of an endotracheal tube (ETT) for airway management. The first documented case of ETT was brought to the fore by Hippocrates (460–380 BC) (Sultan et al., 2011, pp.379). Patients undergoing surgery do require the insertion of ETT for airway management. Patients undergoing surgery often require the insertion of an endotracheal tube (ETT) for airway management. One area of interest relating to ETT is over-inflation due to its associated adverse effects.
Intraoperative ETT cuff Pressures and why it is an issue of Concern
One outstanding challenge that is associated with ETT intraoperative cuff pressures is excess pressures in supra-glottic airway and cuffs, especially during general anesthesia. The excess pressures can predispose a patient to pharyngo-laryngotracheal complications. The cuff pressures are poorly monitored in most operating theatres, this contrasts with what...