Evaluation of the Efficiency of the Atraumatic Endotracheal Tube in the Pulmonary-Gas Exchange: an Experimental Study

OBJECTIVE: Mechanical ventilation is frequently necessary, in which case the use of an endotracheal tube is mandatory. The tube has an inflatable balloon in its distal extremity, whose aim is, among other functions, an efficient arterialization. However, serious injuries in the place of contact of the balloon with the trachea can be frequent. Some studies point out that balloons with permanent pressure may reduce this complication. Nevertheless, air scape, expressed by the inspiratory (IV) and expiratory volume (EV) variation (Δ IV-EV), may occur, possibly leading to hypoxemia. Thus, the goal of this study was to verify the efficiency of a modified endotracheal tube on arterializations compared to the traditional endotracheal tube. METHODS: The modified endotracheal tube presents intermittent insufflation, with three drillings in the internal region of the cuff, allowing for insufflation in the inspiratory phase of the mechanical ventilation. Three animals were used for the control group, with a cuff pressure of 30 cmH(2)O, and seven pigs had the modified endotracheal tube. Each animal was kept under mechanical ventilation (FIO(2)=0.21) for 6 hours. Arterial and venous gases were measured every three hours (T(0); T(3); T(6)). RESULTS: The gases confirmed the lack of hypoxia between the Groups, with a difference in the ΔIV-EV at T0 (P=0.0486). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the lack of hypoxia showed the efficiency of the modified endotracheal tube. However, new studies are necessary, particularly in diseased lungs, in order to evaluate the real efficiency of the mentioned device on the pulmonary gas exchange.