Cuff Pressure Gauge • LITFL • CCC Equipment

OVERVIEW

Cuff pressure gauge aka cuff manometer

USES

allows safe inflation of the cuff seal of low pressure endotracheal and laryngeal tube cuffs by measuring the cuff pressure

DESCRIPTION

Luer attachment to the pilot balloon of tubes
rubber hand bulb for cuff inflation
large pressure display gauge on the front
pressure release valve on the back that permits air to be released from the cuff
ergonomic design to enable inflation and deflation with one hand
some have a hook on the back to aid storage
latex free components
Gauges
– range between brands and models (e.g. pressure in cmH2O and/or mmHg; pressure ranges (0–60 cmH2O versus 0–120 cmH2O)
— variable coloured ‘wedge(s)’ on the gauge may designate a recommended ‘safe pressure’ range and/or ‘unsafe’ ranges for endotracheal and/or laryngeal mask tubes
Several brands (e.g. VBMTM, AmbuTM)

METHOD OF INSERTION/ USE

Attaches firmly to the pilot balloon of cuffs via the Luer connector and the pressure is displayed
high cuff pressure is adjusted by deflating air by pressing the release mechanism
if there is an inadequate seal within the safe zone, the pressure may be temporarily increased until a seal is achieved while causes of this are investigated (including tube position, cuff integrity, ventilation)
minimal leak technique: inflate cuff, release air until gurgling heard on inspiration indicating leak around ETT cuff, slowly reinsufflate cuff until leak disappears then check cuff pressure to ensure in the safe zone

COMPLICATIONS

Poor attachment to the Luer connector can result in incorrect readings
repeated cuff deflation can cause loss of PEEP and microaspiration
strict adherence to the ‘safe’ zone without addressing patient ventilatory issues can result in persistent cuff leak, loss of PEEP, inadequate ventilation and aspiration of secretions above the cuff
ignoring the need for high pressures to produce a seal can result in mucosal necrosis
fixation on the pressure may lead to failure to recognise that a large air volume has been inflated to obtain a seal — this may occur when the tube too high or herniating cuff
if the tube to the pilot balloon is kinked (e.g. by a tie around the ETT) pressure readings may be low, even though the cough is inflated adequately

OTHER INFORMATION

ETT cuff pressure <25 cmH₂O is considered safe
pressure threshold for mucosal ischaemia is lower in shocked patients

Critical Care

Compendium

…more CCC

Chris Nickson

Chris is an Intensivist and ECMO specialist at the Alfred ICU in Melbourne. He is also a Clinical Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University. He is a co-founder of the Australia and New Zealand Clinician Educator Network (ANZCEN) and is the Lead for the ANZCEN Clinician Educator Incubator programme. He is on the Board of Directors for the Intensive Care Foundation and is a First Part Examiner for the College of Intensive Care Medicine. He is an internationally recognised Clinician Educator with a passion for helping clinicians learn and for improving the clinical performance of individuals and collectives.

After finishing his medical degree at the University of Auckland, he continued post-graduate training in New Zealand as well as Australia’s Northern Territory, Perth and Melbourne. He has completed fellowship training in both intensive care medicine and emergency medicine, as well as post-graduate training in biochemistry, clinical toxicology, clinical epidemiology, and health professional education.

He is actively involved in in using translational simulation to improve patient care and the design of processes and systems at Alfred Health. He coordinates the Alfred ICU’s education and simulation programmes and runs the unit’s education website, INTENSIVE. He created the ‘Critically Ill Airway’ course and teaches on numerous courses around the world. He is one of the founders of the FOAM movement (Free Open-Access Medical education) and is co-creator of litfl.com, the RAGE podcast, the Resuscitology course, and the SMACC conference.

His one great achievement is being the father of three amazing children.

On Twitter, he is @precordialthump.

| INTENSIVE | RAGE | Resuscitology | SMACC