Performance of a novel pressure release valve for cuff pressure control in pediatric tracheal tubes.
BACKGROUND
Acute and chronic hyperinflation of tracheal tube cuffs represents a persistent risk factor for airway damage in children when cuffed tracheal tubes are used. In order to overcome this particular risk, a cuff pressure (CP) pop-off valve has been designed to avoid CP exceeding 20 cmH(2)O.


METHODS
The performance of the novel pop-off valve has been evaluated in an in vitro set-up during slow and rapid air insufflation by a syringe or a CP manometer or inadvertent compression of the cuff pilot balloon while measuring cuff and tracheal wall pressure (WP) in ID 3.0 mm cuffed tracheal tubes. Steady-state performance was evaluated during nitrous oxide exposure of tracheal tube cuffs (ID 3.0 mm).


RESULTS
The novel CP pop-off valve avoided cuff hyperinflation during rapid air volume changes and showed reliable performance during steady-state nitrous oxide exposure to the tube cuff.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary results show that the CP pop-off valve limits the effect of rapid, potentially dangerous manual cuff inflation maneuvers and reliably prevents CP exceeding the predetermined level of 20 cmH(2)O when exposed to nitrous oxide.
Dullenkopf
Alexander
A
Department of Anaesthesia, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland. alex.dullenkopf@kispi.unizh.ch
Bernet-Buettiker
Vera
V
Maino
Paolo
P
Weiss
Markus
M
D002648:Child; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010372:Pediatrics; D011312:Pressure; D012307:Risk Factors