A study of intracuff pressure measurements, trends and behaviour in patients during prolonged periods of tracheal intubation

A cuff pressure controller for tracheal tubes and laryngeal mask airways

A simple device (U.K. Patent application no. 9907876.8) for fine adjustment of the cuff pressure of tracheal tubes and the laryngeal mask airway is described. In vitro tests confirm its efficiency. It is also a simple tool for training anaesthetic assistants in the operating theatre and nurses in the intensive care unit.

An electropneumatic instrument for measuring and controlling the pressures in the cuffs of tracheal tubes: 'the Cardiff Cuff Controller'

An instrument has been developed for measuring and controlling the pressures in the cuffs of tracheal tubes. It was devised to protect the trachea from high cuff pressure and to prevent aspiration past the cuff.

Complications of tracheostomies in neurosurgical patients

The records of the neurosurgical patients with tracheostomies who were treated at the University of Mississippi Medical Center during the past 5 years were reviewed. Of the 84 such patients, 45% had posttracheostomy complications, including pneumonitis, pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, infected stoma, subcutaneous emphysema, tracheal stenosis, aspiration, swallowing dysfunction, and tracheoarterial fistula. Reported complications related to prolonged nasotracheal intubation, the alternative to tracheostomy, are reviewed. These complications appear to be less frequent and less serious than those of tracheostomy, in the authors' experience as well as in the reports of others. It is concluded that in neurosurgical patients, tracheostomy is not a benign procedure. Unless a specific indication for tracheostomy exists, consideration should be given to the use of prolonged nasotracheal intubation for airway maintenance.