DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2019.v07i02.060

Pages: 722-727

Uncuffed endotracheal tubes (UETTs) are traditionally used for intubation in all children under 8 years of age, irrespective of the indication and duration of intubation, which has its own pros and cons. The recently developed cuffed endotracheal tube is called the Microcuff®, which has been specifically designed for use in paediatric anaesthesia. We studied the clinical performance of paediatric Microcuff® ETT with uncuffed ETT. Sixty patients undergoing lower abdominal surgery of duration more than 1 hour, of ASA I and ASA II status with age between 1-5 years were divided into two groups. Group 1-Cuffed tubes and Group 2-Uncuffed tubes. Microcuff® ETT and Uncuffed ETT were inserted after anaesthesia and adequate muscle relaxation. The parameters like number of ETT exchanges, ventilatory efficacy, requirement of anaesthetic agent and post-operative adverse events were noted. The number of attempt did not differ significantly between two study groups. The mean FGF (O2 and N2O) was found to be significantly higher in Uncuffed ETT (2.76 L) compared to Cuffed ETT (2.18 L) which was statistically significant. The mean EtCO2 of Cuffed ETT was lower (33.80 mmHg) than that of Uncuffed ETT (37.60 mmHg). Mean total amount of sevoflurane used in Cuffed ETT was 9.43ml as opposed to 17.74ml in Uncuffed ETT, the difference was statistically significant. Advantages of the Microcuff® endotracheal tube in this population, therefore would be constant minute ventilation, precise respiratory monitoring and capnography, low fresh gas flow and lesser risk of pulmonary aspiration.