Effect of patient position on endotracheal cuff pressure in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients

Endotracheal tube cuff pressure must be maintained within 20-30mH₂O to prevent complications. There is limited literature reporting the impact of nursing care on endotracheal cuff pressure. However, few studies have reported the effect of nursing care on endotracheal cuff pressure.

This study was performed to investigate the effects of body position on endotracheal cuff pressure.

Twenty-five patients receiving mechanical ventilatory therapy were placed in a baseline position (semirecumbent position with the head of the bed elevated at 30° and head in a neutral position) with endotracheal tube cuff was adjusted to 25cmH₂O. The patients were moved into 16 different positions: anteflexion of the head; hyperextension of the head; left lateral flexion of the head; right lateral flexion of the head; rotation of the head to the left; rotation of the head to the right; semirecumbent position with 45° elevation of the head of the bed; recumbent position with 10° elevation of the head of the bed; supine position; trendelenburg position 10°; left lateral position at 30°, 45°, and 90°; and right lateral position at 30°, 45°, and 90°. The endotracheal tube cuff pressure was measured and recorded after each position change.

Among the 400 endotracheal tube cuff pressure measurements (25 patients×16 positions) 10 (2.5%) were lower than 20cmH₂O; 201 (50.3%) were between 20-30cmH₂O and 189 (47.3%) were higher than 30cmH₂O. Mean endotracheal tube cuff pressure increased from 25 to 32.59±4.08cmH₂O after changing the patients' position. Friedman test indicated a statistically significant deviation in the ETCP across the 16 positions (X2: 122.019, p: 0.0001).

Body positioning during daily nursing care effected the endotracheal tube cuff pressure, suggesting that endotracheal tube cuff pressure should be measured after changing a patient's position and adjusted within the recommended range.