Asploro Journal of Biomedical and Clinical Case Reports
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ISSN: 2582-0370
Article Type: Review Article
DOI: 10.36502/2021/ASJBCCR.6228
Asp Biomed Clin Case Rep. 2021 Feb 10;4(1):50-53
Yim A1, Doctor J1, Aribindi S2, Ranasinghe L3*
1Fourth-year Medical Student, California Northstate University College of Medicine, Elk Grove, CA, USA
2Pediatric Anesthesiologist, Kaiser Permanente, South Sacramento, CA, USA
3Professor of Medical Education and Emergency Medicine, California Northstate University College of Medicine, Elk Grove, CA, USA
Corresponding Author: Leonard Ranasinghe, MD
Address: Professor of Emergency Medicine. College of Medicine, 9700 W. Taron Dr., Elk Grove, California 9757, USA.
Received date: 05 December 2020; Accepted date: 29 January 2021; Published date: 10 February 2021
Citation: Yim A, Doctor J, Aribindi S, Ranasinghe L. Cuffed vs Uncuffed Endotracheal Tubes for Pediatric Patients: A Review. Asp Biomed Clin Case Rep. 2021 Feb 10;4(1):50-53.
Copyright © 2021 Yim A, Doctor J, Aribindi S, Ranasinghe L. This is an open-access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium provided the original work is properly cited.
Keywords: Cuffed Endotracheal Tube, Pediatric General Anesthesia, Uncuffed Endotracheal Tube, Pediatric Patients
Abstract
The use of uncuffed endotracheal tubes (ETT) in patients younger than 8 years old has been in practice for the last 60 years. In the last decade, there has been a change in clinical practice with a transition to cuffed ETT use, and there continues to be debate between cuffed vs uncuffed ETT use. This narrative review article aims to review the current literature on the topic and highlight some key points in the argument of cuffed vs uncuffed ETT use in pediatric patients. Cuffed ETTs are increasingly being used with several studies over the last 20 years demonstrating its benefits. Studies have claimed cuffed ETT has a clinical, environmental, and economical benefit over uncuffed ETT. Despite shortcomings of various studies and no definitive conclusion of a superior type of endotracheal tube, cuffed ETTs are here to stay in the world of anesthesia.
