[Continuous inflation of a leaking cuff of an intubation tube]

Perforation of the cuff of the endotracheal tube peroperatively is a very serious problem, especially when it occurs in a patient prone on an orthopaedic table. This is even more dramatic when the patient is not breathing spontaneously and he cannot be turned over to be reintubated. Given the unusual character of this situation, an apparatus has been designed to keep the cuff inflated permanently. It was a circuit consisting of a manual pressure valve, flexible tubing, a peripheral catheter and the cuff supply tube. The gas used was medical air at 3 bar pressure. This method proved perfectly safe and efficient, the operation having continued without reintubation.