KHẢO SÁT ÁP LỰC BÓNG CHÈN ỐNG NỘI KHÍ QUẢN Ở NGƯỜI BỆNH PHẪU THUẬT NỘI SOI Ổ BỤNG

Abstract

Background: The endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff pressure should be maintained in a safe range of 20-30 cmH₂O. In clinical practice, ETT cuff inflation is still often performed subjectively by nurse anesthetists using the pilot ballon palpation technique rather than being accurately measured with a pressure gauge. As a result, ETT cuff pressure frequently falls outside the safe range, increasing the risk of complications for patients. Objective: To determine the prevalence of ETT cuff pressure falling outside the safe range when using the pilot ballon palpation technique in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study conducted on patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia and mechanical ventilation, using cuffed endotracheal tubes. Results: A total of 100 patients scheduled for laparoscopic surgery were included in the study. The mean ETT cuff pressure using the pilot ballon palpation technique was 41.2 ± 22.3 cmH₂O (ranging from a minimum of 10 cmH₂O to a maximum of 130 cmH₂O), with 74% of cases falling outside the safe range. Specifically, 12% of patients had an ETT cuff pressure < 20 cmH₂O, while 62% had an ETT cuff pressure  > 30 cmH₂O. Additionally, there were three cases of excessive cuff inflation with ETT cuff pressure  > 100 cmH₂O. Conclusion: Maintaining ETT cuff pressure within the safe range requires the use of precise measurement devices and proper training for healthcare providers. Subjective methods, such as the pilot balloon palpation technique, have been proven unreliable, leading to a high prevalence of ETT cuff pressures falling outside the safe range and increasing the risk of patient complications.