Comparison of endotracheal tube cuff pressures inflated with saline or air in gynecological laparoscopic surgery

Abstract

Objective: We compared the air or saline insufflated endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff pressures and their effects on postoperative respiratory complications in gynecological laparoscopic surgeries in the Trendelenburg position (TP). Patients and Methods: This prospective study was carried out on a total of 60 patients, whose ages ranged from 18 to 65 years and who were classified by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) as I-III. They were scheduled for gynecological laparoscopic surgery in TP. Patients included in the study were randomly divided into two groups as the saline (Group S, n=30) and air (Group A, n=30) groups. ETT cuff pressures and peak airway pressures were recorded immediately after intubation and at 10-minute intervals during the intraoperative period. Results: The cuff pressure and maximum cuff pressure values in the saline group were significantly lower than in the air group in the 50-minute (p<0.05). The sore throat and analgesic consumption were significantly lower in Group S in postoperative 24 hours (p<0.001, for all). Conclusion: The intraoperative cuff pressures, postoperative sore throat, and analgesic consumption were lower in the saline-insufflated group than in the air-insufflated group in gynecological laparoscopic surgery in TP.