Technician Sally has intubated a feline patient and now needs to inflate the cuff on the ET tube. What are the precautions she should take when inflating the cuff?
A)None, the ET tube should be inflated to its fullest to prevent the escape of inhalant and waste gases, as well as prevent aspiration of regurgitated fluids.
B)She should inflate the cuff until the pilot balloon is as fat as a tick.
C)She should inflate slowly, listening closely until she creates a seal with the cuff and can no longer hear or smell escaping oxygen or inhalant.
D)She shouldn't inflate the cuff unless the patient starts to regurgitate.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Precautions one should always take while inflating the cuff on an ET tube is to slowly inflate the cuff while listening for escaping oxygen and inhalant to prevent tracheal irritation and potential necrosis of the tracheal mucosa. Tracheal irritation and necrosis can be the direct cause of post anesthesia coughing in improperly intubated patients.

Technician Sally Has Intubated a Feline Patient and Now Needs