• Maira Soliani Del Negro, Gilson Barreto, Raíssa Quaiatti Antonelli, Tiago Antônio Baldasso, Luciana Rodrigues de Meirelles, Marcos Mello Moreira, and Alfio José Tincani.
• Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
• Rev Bras Cir Cardiovasc. 2014 Oct 1;29(4):552-8.

IntroductionThe inflation pressure of the endotracheal tube cuff can cause ischemia of the tracheal mucosa at high pressures; thus, it can cause important tracheal morbidity and tracheal microaspiration of the oropharyngeal secretion, or it can even cause pneumonia associated with mechanical ventilation if the pressure of the cuff is insufficient.ObjectiveIn order to investigate the effectiveness of the RUSCH® 7.5 mm endotracheal tube cuff, this study was designed to investigate the physical and mechanical aspects of the cuff in contact with the trachea.MethodsFor this end, we developed an in vitro experimental model to assess the flow of dye (methylene blue) by the inflated cuff on the wall of the artificial material. We also designed an in vivo study with 12 Large White pigs under endotracheal intubation. We instilled the same dye in the oral cavity of the animals, and we analyzed the presence or not of leakage in the trachea after the region of the cuff after their deaths (animal sacrifice). All cuffs were inflated at the pressure of 30 cmH2O.ResultsWe observed the passage of fluids through the cuff in all in vitro and in vivo experimental models.ConclusionWe conclude that, as well as several other cuff models in the literature, the RUSCH® 7.5 mm tube cuffs are also not able to completely seal the trachea and thus prevent aspiration of oropharyngeal secretions. Other prevention measures should be taken.

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