Assessing anesthesia providers’ perceptions of adequacy of endotracheal tube cuff occlusion assessment techniques: A DNP project

Abstract

Current literature describes subjective and objective endotracheal tube cuff pressure measurement techniques and their effectiveness. However, current literature does not assess anesthesia providers’ perceptions of the perioperative usefulness of subjective assessment (tactile) and objective assessment (manometer) of occlusive volume for endotracheal tube cuffs. For this project, five Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists completed a pre-implementation survey, viewed an educational video, trialed the use of a manometer device over a two week period, and then completed a post-implementation survey. Analysis of responses to the pre- and post-implementation surveys revealed an increase in participants’ perceptions of the adequacy of manometry for assessing endotracheal tube pressures as well as intended use of this objective measurement technique in future practice. The limitations of this study include a small sample size, time limitations for the project and not all participants responding to every survey. Future studies involving greater numbers of participants and longer trial periods would provide better understanding of anesthesia provider perceptions of endotracheal cuff pressure measuring techniques.