Preventive measure against nitrous oxide induced volume and pressure changes of endotracheal tube cuffs

Endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff volume and pressure changes were studied in patients receiving 70% and 50% nitrous oxide for anaesthesia. ETT cuffs were inflated with either room air or inhalation mixture. There was a significant increase in cuff volumes and pressures in ETT cuffs containing room air compared to insignificant changes in cuffs containing the inhalation mixture during a two hour study period. A simple measure of substitution of air by the inspired anaesthetic gases for ETT cuff inflation is highly beneficial in the prevention of detrimental changes due to excessive increase in cuff volumes and pressure during nitrous oxide administration.