Regular monitoring and maintaining oral endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff pressure in the normal range in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation in order to maintain adequate ventilation and reduce the risk of complications is essential. This study was aimed to determine the oral ETT cuff pressures in mechanically ventilated patients were admitted to the intensive care unit. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted between February 2015 and June 2015. Fifty patients with oral ETT were admitted to the intensive care unit were selected. Pressure of ETT cuff was measured by a standard calibrated manometer. Data were analyzed by SPSS ver 22. Results: The Mean of oral ETT cuff pressure was 53.40 ± 25.42 cm of H 2 O. In 76% of cases, the cuff pressure was higher than 30 cm of H 2 O. There was no correlation between factors related to patients and ETT cuff pressure. Only significant correlation between the ETT cuff pressure and body temperature was observed. Conclusion: Cuff pressure is often higher than safe limits and regular monitoring of the ETT cuff pressure and preventing its consequences are much recommended.

Introduction: Maintaining endotracheal tube intracuff pressure (ETTICP) within an optimal range is crucial for effective ventilation and prevention of aspiration. This study aimed to determine the effect of changing body position on ETTICP in patients under mechanical ventilation. Methods: In the current single-group study, each patient was taken as his/her own control. Thirty patients who met the inclusion criteria were selected as the study sample. First, the patients were placed in a supine (flat) position, head of the bed was raised to 30 degrees, and ETTICP was set at 25 cmH2 O as the baseline. Then, the ETTICP changes in the three positions (left lateral, right lateral, and semi-fowler) were compared with the baseline. Interventions were made on a random basis among the patients. Data were analyzed by repeated-measures ANOVA using SPSS version 13. Results: There was a significant difference among ETTICP means in three different body positions, so that ETTICP was higher in the left lateral position compared to other positions. Moreover, there was a significant difference among ETTICP means 0, 15, 45, and 90 minutes after changing the body position. ETTICP means after 0 and 15 minutes were significantly higher than other times compared to the baseline. Conclusion: ETTICP changes were affected by different body positions and the passage of time. Thus, regular monitoring and adjusting of ETTICP after any body positioning is essential, especially immediately and 15 minutes after repositioning.