An evaluation of the cuff characteristics and incidence of laryngeal complications using a new nasotracheal tube in prolonged intubations.
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 811 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.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006685:Hoarseness / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009666:Nose; D011312:Pressure