THE EFFECT OF SUPINE TO LATERAL POSITON CHANGE ON CUFF PRESSURE IN INTUBATED PATIENTS ADMITTED TO INTENSIVE CARE UNIT OF URMIA EMAM HOSPITAL

Control of the endotracheal tube cuff pressure and complications due to its
incompatibility are one of the main challenges of care in most intensive care units. In this study, we
investigated the effect of changing from supine to lateral decubitus position on the cuff pressure of
intubated patients admitted to intensive care unit of Urmia Imam Hospital.
Materials & Methods: After approving the project at the University's Ethics Committee, this prospective
cross-sectional study was carried out in patients admitted to the intensive care unit with a range of 18-
70 years old, who were intubated for any reason and receiving mechanical ventilation, in a 3-month
period. First, the pressure of the cuff of the endotracheal tube was measured and recorded at the supine
position and then 2 hours later. Then, patients were restored to the right and left side, and 2 hours later,
and at the end of the second hour, the cuff pressure was measured and recorded. For all patients, SUPA
endoteracheal tube with appropriate size were used based on the gender of patients with low cuff
pressure and high volume.
Results: In this study, 105 eligible patients were enrolled. The mean age of the patients was 14.35 ±
60.0 years. 57.1% of the patients were male and the rest were female. Internal diseases, CNS, surgery
and trauma were the most common causes of hospitalization in this study. There was no statistically
significant difference between the mean cuff pressure in the baseline state and 2 hours later in 3 positions
in the supine, right and left lateral (p> 0.05).
Conclusion: Although there was no statistically significant difference in the mean of cuff pressure in
the 3 different conditions, but it was necessary to monitored the condition of the intubated patients and
measured at the acceptable intervals of the cuff pressure of the endotracheal tube to prevent the
continuation of the increase in the pressure of the tube cuff and preventing complications from it