ENDOBRONCHIAL CUFF PRESSURES

In 20 adult patients (18 male) who presented for thoracotomy,the trachea was intubated using Mallinckrodt disposable double-lumentubes (18 large and two medium). The endobronchial cuff wasinflated by a trained operating department assistant using anair-filled syringe. The volume of air and the initial endobronchialcuff pressure were measured. The minimum cuff pressure requiredto prevent respiratory gas leakage from the isolated lung wasmeasured also and maintained using the Cardiff Cuff Controller.Mean initial cuff pressure was 69.3 (SEM 6.0) mm Hg, whereasthe mean minimum cuff pressure was 29.5 (4.0) mm Hg (P <0.0001). The results suggest that the method described of inflatingthe endobronchial cuff may lead to overinflation and subsequentexcessive pressure on the endobronchial wall. (Br. J. Anaesth.1993; 70:576–578)