Background and aims: Airway management in children with oral cleft surgery carries unique challenges, concerning the proximity of the surgical site and the tracheal tube. We hypothesized that using a Microcuff oral RAE tube would reduce tube exchange and migration rate. We aimed to compare the performance of Microsoft and uncuffed oral performed tracheal tubes in children undergoing cleft palate surgeries regarding the rate of tracheal tube exchange, endobronchial intubation, and ventilatory parameters.
Methods: One hundred children scheduled for cleft palate surgery were randomized into two groups. In the uncuffed group (n = 50), the tracheal tube was selected using the Modified Coles formula, and in the Microcuff (n = 50) group, the manufacturer's recommendations were followed. Intraoperatively, we compared the primary outcome of tube exchange using the chi-square test. The leak pressure and ventilatory parameters after head extension and mouth gag application were measured in both groups.
Results: The tracheal tube exchange rate was significantly lower in the Microcuff group (0/50) than in uncuffed (19/50) preformed tubes (0 vs. 38% respectively; p <.001). The uncuffed and Microcuff tracheal tube were comparable concerning ventilation parameters and leak pressure of finally placed tubes (17.78 ± 3.95 vs. 19.26 ± 3.81 cm H2 O respectively, with a mean difference (95% CI) of -1.48 (-0.01-2.98); p-value =0.059. Cuff pressure did not vary significantly during the initial hour, and the incidence of postoperative airway morbidity between uncuffed and Microcuff tube was comparable, 5/50 (10%) versus 7/50 (14%) with risk ratio (95% CI) of 0.71(0.24-2.1), p value .49.
Conclusion: Microcuff oral preformed tubes performed better than uncuffed tubes regarding tube exchange during cleft palate surgery.
Keywords: microcuff tubes; pediatric intubation; preformed tubes.
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