[Preclinical duty of care during cuff pressure management]

Airway morbidity is influenced by different factors. Independent of the main emergency health problem, airway morbidity factors may exacerbate a possible poor outcome (e.g., bleeding, tongue swelling, nerve lesion).

However, insertion technique and cuff pressure management are both important for duty of care out-of-hospital emergency medicine. After securing the airway (e.g., tracheal tube or supraglottic airway device cuff), pressure measurement is necessary.

In a number of recent publications, a largely forgotten issue has come into the focus of preclinical science. This issue became particularly relevant in the admitting hospital.

The results from the aforementioned publications show that preclinical management of cuff pressure is not taken sufficiently into consideration, resulting in possible harm to the patient.

It is important and safe to use a cuff pressure device. The initial cuff pressure and if necessary corrected value should be documented.