A Comparative Study of Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressure and Postoperative Throat Symptoms using Air Versus Saline for Cuff Inflation

A total of 348 patients between the age of 18-65 years will be studied. ASA I ( normal healthy person ) and II ( patients with mild systemic disease ) grades undergoing general anaesthesia for greater than 60 minutes duration will be included. An informed written consent will be taken for willingness to participate in this study. Patients will be randomized into two groups , group ’A’ and group ’S’, using a closed envelope method. In group ’A’, endotracheal tube cuff will be inflated with air and in group ’s’, endotracheal tube will be inflated with 0.9% normal saline. 7.0/7.5 mm tube will be used in female patients and 8.0/8.5 mm tube used in male patients. After following all standard protocols for induction, tracheal intubation is performed. No lubricant is applied on the endotracheal tube. The endotracheal tube cuff will be inflated with minimum volume of air or saline required to acheive a seal so as not to have a leak in the circuit. The cuff pressure will be measured using the cuff pressure gauge by Ambu. The cuff pressure will be noted by the investigator after every 60 minutes of the procedure and at the time of extubation.When the cuff pressure is more than 30 cm H2O, it will be noted and adjusted to 25 cm H2O.The incidence and intensity of postoperative throat symptoms like sore throat , cough, hoarseness of voice and dysphagia in both groups will be evaluated using a questionnaire by nurses in the PACU at 1 hour and at 24 hours by the ward nurses.