[Cuff pressure control at the intersinve care unit: influence of nursing professionals' training]

To analyze proper control of endotracheal cuff pressure in an intensive care unit. The specific objective is to verify whether training of nursing professionals improves monitoring endotracheal cuff pressure.

the study type is descriptive, observational and retrospective. All patients were admitted to the Critical Unit II of the Clínico San Carlos Hospital between May 2010-November 2011, requiring either a tracheal tube or tracheal cannula. Studied variables were: number of in range measures, number of intubated patients, or with tracheal cannula and register. Four cuts were made on all admitted patients admitted during the study period in order to measure endotracheal cuff pressure. Two cuts were performed before the professional nurses training and the other two cuts after a specific training with respect to endotracheal cuff pressure and Zero pneumonia.

There were 74 measurements. The first cut obtained 40.74% of measures in range. In the second cut 61.90% of measures were identified in range. In the third cut, it was found that 85.7% of measures were in range and in the fourth court, it was noted the 89.47% of measures were in range.

Monitoring of the endotracheal cuff pressure was inadequate before specific training of professionals. Nursing professionals training facilitates the correct measurement of the endotracheal cuff pressure, which improves patient safety.