BACKGROUND In anterior cervical spine surgery a retractor is obligatory to approach the spine. Previous studies showed an increase of endotracheal tube cuff pressure after placement of a retractor. It is known that high endotracheal tube cuff pressure increases the incidence of postoperative dysphagia, hoarseness, and sore throat. However, until now no evidence supports the fact whether adjusti...

BACKGROUND Adhesive tape is commonly used to secure the endotracheal tube (ETT) in anesthesia and intensive-care settings. OBJECTIVE To determine the force required to extubate when the ETT is secured with adhesive tape or commercially available ETT holders. METHODS We orally intubated a simulation manikin with a standard 8.0-mm inner-diameter ETT, inflated the cuff to 20 cm H(2)O, and mea...

provided the original work is properly cited. CC Malpositioning of an endotracheal tube within the airway can lead to serious complications, such as endobronchial intubation, which may cause collapse of the nonventilated lung and barotrauma of the ventilated lung or vocal cord paralysis and accidental extubation [1]. We retrospectively identified 204 (54 plain tubes and 54 reinforced tubes in m...

Although bedside ultrasonography can accurately distinguish esophageal from tracheal intubation, it is not used to establish the correct depth of endotracheal tube insertion. As indirect sonographic markers of endotracheal tube insertion depth have proven unreliable, a method for visual verification of correct tube depth would be ideal. We describe the use of saline to inflate the endotracheal ...

OBJECTIVES To investigate the effectiveness of mechanical cleaning with sterile urethral catheters to prevent formation of biofilms on endotracheal tubes. METHODS Forty-five children were randomized in equal numbers to endotracheal tube cleaning group for three times a day (group A), twice daily (group B), or to a control group with no endotracheal tube cleaning (group C). Bacterial studies a...