AN EVALUATION OF THE CUFF CHARACTERISTICS AND INCIDENCE OF LARYNGEAL COMPLICATIONS USING A NEW NASOTRACHEAL TUBE IN PROLONGED INTUBATION

Abstract

A series of 1,187 nasotracheal intubations, carried out from January 1973 to December, 1975, used a new tube. The design included a smooth tip. a cuff with a large area of contact, low pressure and a high residual volume, and a radiopaque line which is easily visible on chest X-ray. A secondary irrigating lumen opening distal to the cuff provides closed-system irrigation, measurement of airway pressures, and sampling of tracheal gases. In the S11 intubated nontracheostomized patients who survived, the overall incidence of significant laryngeal damage was 1%. In patients intubated in excess of 10 days the damage incidence was 10%. and we suggest that tracheostomy should be carried out at this time. No patients suffered from any known permanent laryngeal damage.