Pressão do cuff em pacientes em ventilação mecânica – relação com a mudança de decúbito

Abstract

Objective: To check the intra-cuff pressure of patients on mechanical ventilation and the relationship with the position change. Materiais and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. To check the cuff pressure, a manometer has been adjusted, with reference to the pressure of 20mmHg. On the first day, it was initially measured the intra-cuff pressure with the patient supine with the head at 30°, followed by the lateral decubitus (back to the ventilator) and the lateral position facing the ventilator. From the second to the fifth day, the pressure was checked only in the supine position with the head at 30°. For data analysis, both independent and dependent Student t test were used (p<0.05). Results: In five consecutive days of verification of the intra- cuff pressure in the supine position we have observed that pressures were slightly decreased compared to the reference value, where the third day showed the lower pressure (16.4±15.1mmHg). When performing position changes it was noted that the intra-cuff pressure showed variations up or below 20 mmHg, that when analyzing the differences between the mean pressures, showed statistically significant results. The lateral decubitus with the back to the ventilator presented with pressure values within the reference frame (20.3mmHg), although a decrease was found in the decubitus facing the ventilator (18.1±4.8). Conclusion: In conclusion, the mean intra-cuff pressures in five consecutive days were decreased. Only on the fifth day pressures remained at normal values and the position changes significantly influenced the variation of this pressure.