Ujuzi (Practical Pearl/Perle Pratique

A manometer is a device that is connected to the pilot cuff of an endotracheal tube (ETT), to measure, inflate or deflate the cuff. It consists of a pressure gauge, a connecting port and mechanisms to inflate or deflate the cuff.1 The cuff pressure of an adult endotracheal tube should be ideally maintained between 18 and 25 mm Hg to minimise the risk of low pressures in the cuff which cause complications such as aspiration, ventilator associated pneumonia and or high pressure complication mainly pressure necrosis at the tracheal mucosa.2 Inflating an endotracheal tube cuff to the correct pressure using only estimation techniques is not adequate. Using manometry would provide an accurate measurement of safe pressure in an inflated endotracheal tube cuff.