Comparison of Different Methods for Determining Endotracheal Cuff Pressure
Condition: Anesthesia, General; Intubation, Intratracheal
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The goal of this clinical trial is to test whether the stethoscope can be used as a method of
      assessing endotracheal cuff pressure as effectively as a manometer and also to compare it
      with the balloon palpation/audible leak method frequently used in clinical practice in adult
      patients undergoing general anesthesia.

      The main questions it aims to answer are:

        -  Is the stethoscope as effective as a manometer in assessing endotracheal cuff pressure?

        -  Is there a difference between stethoscope and audible leak/balloon palpation methods in
           assessing endotracheal cuff pressure? Participants will be randomly divided into 2
           groups.

        -  Group P: After intubation, endotracheal cuff pressure will be assessed by audible
           leak/balloon palpation.

        -  Group S: After intubation, endotracheal cuff pressure will be assessed with a
           stethoscope.

        -  Control will be carried out with a manometer and the pressure values obtained in the
           groups will be corrected.

      Researchers will compare ''stethoscope'' and ''audible leak/balloon palpation'' groups to see
      if which method is effective like a manometer.
    

Detailed description: 
      Although the use of a manometer is recommended in daily practice to evaluate endotracheal
      tube cuff pressure for intubated patients, the cuff is still inflated using balloon palpation
      or audible leakage methods in many centers. Manometers may not be available in most centers.
      An acceptable cuff pressure ranges from 20 to 30 cm H2O. While the risk of aspiration
      increases below 20 cm H2O, at values above 30 cm H2O the circulation of the tracheal mucosa
      begins to deteriorate and related complications like ulceration, stenosis, and even fistula
      may develop.

      The authors hypothesize that the stethoscope is as effective as a manometer in assessing
      endotracheal tube cuff pressure where a manometer is not available.

      After informed consent is obtained from patients who meet the inclusion criteria for the
      study, the patients will be intubated following anesthesia induction and the method by which
      the patients' endotracheal tube cuffs will be inflated will be determined in a randomized
      manner using the sealed envelope method. Then, the cuff pressures will be checked with a
      manometer by an expert who does not know the method by which the cuff is inflated, if
      necessary, it will be corrected and the data will be recorded with the code assigned to the
      method. Statistical evaluations will be made on the data obtained by an analyst who does not
      know the names of the methods and which method was applied to which patient.

      The difference between our study and previous studies:

        -  Previous studies had small numbers of patients.

        -  The authors designed a randomized controlled study with triple masking.
    

Intervention name(s): stethoscope; Audible leak/Balloon palpation
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): endotracheal tube cuff will be inflated via stethoscope guidance; endotracheal tube cuff will be inflated via audible leak/balloon palpation method
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Prevention
Keywords: Cuff pressure; Endotracheal intubation; endotracheal tube; inflation; measurement