Intraoperative management of ETT and LMA cuff pressures: a survey of anaesthetists’ knowledge, attitude and current practice

Abstract

Background: Endotracheal tubes and laryngeal mask airway devices are routinely used during anaesthesia. Inappropriate inflation of cuffs has been shown to cause postoperative airway morbidity, and limiting the pressure decreases the incidence of pharyngo-laryngeal complications. Subjective measurements of cuff pressures correlate poorly to actual pressures, yet the use of objective cuff manometry is not routinely practised. The aim of this study was to determine current clinical practice of cuff inflation as well as the knowledge and attitude of anaesthetists in the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Discipline of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care.