Comparative Study of Clinical Effect of Cuffed vs Uncuffed Endotracheal Tube in Neonates Undergoing Surgery Under General Anaesthesia

BACKGROUNDThe use of cuffed Endotracheal Tube (ET tube) in neonates is not much popular, because of the fear of airway complications.But this traditional thinking is now changing with cuffed tube becoming more acceptable and popular.This study was conducted to compare postoperative airway complications and tube exchange rate in neonates intubated with cuffed or uncuffed endotracheal tube. MATERIALS AND METHODSFifty neonates who were undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia with endotracheal intubation were included in this randomised active-controlled single-blinded study.They were randomly allocated into two groups to receive intubation with either cuffed ET tube (Group C, n= 25) or uncuffed ET tube (Group U, n= 25).Data from 23 neonates in each group was available for analysis with the relaxation of study protocol.The tube exchange rate and incidences of postoperative airway adverse events such as hoarse cry, laryngospasm and apnoeic spell were noted in both the groups. RESULTSMean ages of neonates in both groups were comparable (13.5 days and 12.7 days, respectively).The tube exchange rate was considerably less in cuffed tube group compared with uncuffed tube group (4.3% versus 65%, respectively, p= 0.0000002).Incidence of postoperative airway adverse events was also found to be significantly less in cuffed tube group compared with uncuffed group (4% versus 43%, respectively, p= 0.00009). CONCLUSIONThe use of cuffed ET tube in neonates reduces the need for tube exchange and reduces postoperative adverse events, such as hoarse cry and apnoeic spell compared with the use of uncuffed ET tube.