Taperguard

BACKGROUND: Incomplete sealing of tracheal diverticula by a tracheal tube cuff during positive-pressure ventilation causes barotrauma but the concrete possibility of incomplete sealing has not been indicated. We aimed to assess the possibility of incomplete sealing in a simulated situation of tracheal intubation for patients with tracheal diverticula with tube fixation where the tracheal tube's vocal cord guide overlaps with the patient's vocal cord. METHODS: We retrospectively assessed the characteristics of tracheal diverticula based on thoracic computed tomography data in our institution from January 2018 to July 2020...

BACKGROUND: Tracheostomy insertion in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents unique challenges. Patients frequently have high ventilatory requirements, and as an aerosol generating procedure, tracheostomy insertion creates the potential for staff transmission. Problems with tracheostomies contribute to morbidity and mortality, and tracheostomy changes may increase risks of staff transmission. We sought to quantify the incidence of clinically necessitated tracheostomy changes, establish the indications for change and investigate the incidence of staff transmission...

AIM: To assess the difference between endotracheal tubes (ETT) with continuous suction of subglottic secretions (CASS) and standard ETT in preventing secretions movement from the pharynx into the trachea, past the inflated cuff during general anesthesia. METHODS: This randomized, controlled trial enrolled 50 patients who underwent general anesthesia for elective abdominal surgery lasting longer than two hours. They received either ETT with CASS: Teleflex ISIS HVT (GISIS, n=17) or Mallinckrodt TaperGuard Evac (GEvac, n=17), or ETT without suction: Mallinckrodt Intermediate Hi-Lo (GStand, n=16)...

BACKGROUND: The proper cuff pressure of endotracheal tube (ET) plays an important role in sealing the airway and preventing airway complications during mechanical ventilation. The ET cuff shape affects the cuff pressure after positional change. AIM: To investigate cuff pressure between tapered and cylindrical cuff after extension of head and neck during nasal endotracheal intubation. METHODS: In a randomized clinical trial, 52 patients were randomized to one of two groups: cylindrical cuff or Tapered cuff...

BACKGROUND: Endotracheal tube (ETT) with a tapered-shaped cuff had an improved sealing effect when compared to ETTs with a conventional cylindrical-shaped cuff. Positional change and neck movement typically displace an ETT and change the intracuff pressure. The aim of the current study was to compare the ETT cuff pressure in the TaperGuard ETT vs the conventional ETT after a change from the supine, neutral position to the extension of the neck and semi-Fowler position for thyroid surgery...

BACKGROUND: Endotracheal tube (ETT) designs to decrease the risk of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) include supraglottic suctioning, and/or modifications of the cuff shape. The TaperGuard™ ETT has a tapered, polyvinylchloride cuff designed to reduce microaspiration around channels that form with a standard barrel-shaped cuff. We compared risk of postoperative pneumonia using the TaperGuard™ ETT and the standard ETT in surgical patients requiring general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation...

PURPOSE: Novel designs of the endotracheal tube (ETT) are emerged to reduce the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). We evaluated the effect of two different types, namely silver-coated (Bactiguard) and subglottic suctioning (Taperguard) ETTs, on the incidence of VAP in critically-ill patients. METHODS: A total of 90 patients, mechanically ventilated for >72 h, were randomly assigned to Bactiguard and Taperguard groups. They otherwise received routine care, including VAP prevention measures during their intensive care unit (ICU) stay...

BACKGROUND: Maintaining optimal intracuff pressure of the endotracheal tube is important during airway management. Rotation of the head can affect the cuff pressure of the endotracheal tube. We investigated the change in cuff pressure and the degree of tube displacement according to the direction of head rotation (toward the same side vs opposite side of tube fixation) using a TaperGuard endotracheal tube. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study in 58 patients, aged 18 to 70 years, who underwent tympanomastoidectomy under general anesthesia...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A risk of tracheal mucosa injury induced by subglottic suctioning has been raised. Therefore, this prospective randomized study aims to compare the effect of continuous suctioning of subglottic secretions versus intermittent suctioning of subglottic secretions (CSSS vs. ISSS) secretions on tracheal mucosa in front of the suctioning port of the endotracheal tube. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients requiring intubation or reintubation in Intensive Care Unit with an expected ventilation duration > 24 h were eligible...

BACKGROUND: Positional change affects the cuff pressure of an endotracheal tube (ETT) in treacheally intubated patients. We compared the cuff pressure of a TaperGuard ETT and a cylindrical ETT after lateral rotation of head during middle ear surgery. METHODS: Fifty-two patients aged 18-70 years underwent a tympanomastoidectomy under general anesthesia were randomly allocated to receive endotracheal intubation with cylindrical (group C, n = 26) or TaperGuard ETTs (group T, n = 26)...

BACKGROUND: Aspiration of subglottic secretions past the endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff is a prerequisite for developing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Subglottic secretion drainage (SSD) ETTs reduce aspiration of subglottic secretions and have demonstrated lower VAP rates. We compared the performance of seven SSD ETTs against a non-SSD ETT in preventing aspiration below inflated cuffs. METHODS: ETTs were positioned vertically in 2 cm diameter cylinders. Four ml of a standard microbial suspension was added above inflated cuffs...

BACKGROUND: Endotracheal tube placement is necessary for the control of the airway in patients who are mechanically ventilated. However, prolonged duration of endotracheal tube placement contributes to the development of ventilator-associated pneumonias (VAPs). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether subglottic suctioning using TaperGuard EVAC tubes was effective in decreasing the frequency of VAP. METHODS: A total of 276 mechanically ventilated patients for more than 72 hours were randomly assigned to group E (EVAC tube) and group C (conventional tube)...

BACKGROUND: Cuff design affects microaspiration, a risk factor for pneumonia. We questioned whether the PneuX low-volume fold-free cuff design would prevent cuff leakage and maintain the same tracheal wall pressure as high-volume, low-pressure (HVLP) cuffs. METHODS: We evaluated 4 HVLP-cuffed endotracheal tubes (ETTs), Hi-Lo (polyvinyl chloride [PVC]), Microcuff (polyurethane [PU]), SealGuard (PU + tapered), and TaperGuard (PVC + tapered), and the PneuX with its dedicated tracheal seal monitor...

The objective of this study was to compare fluid leakage across endotracheal tube cuffs using a three-dimensional (3D)-printed human tracheal model that anatomically simulates the human trachea. We made two models based on computed tomography data of the neck and chest. Using a Mallinckrodt Hi-Lo™ (HL), ThinCuff(®) (TC), and Mallinckrodt TaperGuard™ (TG), we sequentially measured the amount of fluid leakage across each endotracheal tube cuff after applying saline or viscous liquid above the cuff. The TG allowed significantly less leakage than the HL and TC with both saline and the viscous liquid...

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare the upper gastrointestinal endoscope (UGE) insertion-mediated cuff pressure increase between a tracheal tube with a tapered cuff (Taper) and or conventional high volume low pressure cuff (HVLP) utilizing a porcine larynx model. METHODS: The automated cuff pressure was adjusted to 10, 20, and 30 cmH2O. The Taper and HVLP cuff pressure increases by UGE insertion were measured. RESULTS: Significant cuff pressure increase was observed by UGE insertion regardless of initial cuff pressure...

INTRODUCTION: The Shiley™ Flexible adult tracheostomy tube with TaperGuard™ cuff has been designed through its geometry, materials, diameter, and wall thickness to minimize micro-aspiration of fluids past the cuff and to provide an effective air seal in the trachea while also minimizing the risk of excessive contact pressure on the tracheal mucosa. The cuff also has a deflated profile that may allow for easier insertion through the stoma site. This unique design is known as the TaperGuard™ cuff...

BACKGROUND: Endotracheal tube (ETT) cuffs create a seal to protect against secretion entry to the lungs. Cuff inflation currently is recommended at 20-30 cm H2O pressure. ETT designs have variable seal performance in bench studies using rigid tracheal models lacking the dynamic characteristics of the human trachea. We compared ETT designs within a new, biorealistic tracheal model to assess cuff and suction performance in the setting of a compliant trachea. METHODS: Three ETT designs (Mallinckrodt Hi-Lo, KimVent Microcuff, and Sheridan/HVT) were tested for performance by simulant leakage below the cuff and air leakage (measured as return tidal volume ≥ 80% delivered) over a range of cuff (5-25 cm H2O) and end-expiratory pressure (PEEP 0-15 cm H2O)...

PURPOSE: Positional change can displace an endotracheal tube (ETT) and change the ETT cuff pressure in a tracheally intubated patient. Endotracheal tubes with different cuff shapes may lead to different cuff pressures after positional change. We hypothesized that the intracuff pressure in the TaperGuard™ ETT with a tapered-shaped cuff would be higher than that in the conventional ETT with a cylindrical-shaped cuff after a change from the supine to the lateral flank position. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients scheduled for open urological procedures in the lateral flank position were randomly allocated to receive either a TaperGuard ETT (group T) or conventional ETT (group C)...

We report the successful awake tracheal intubation in a patient with hypopharyngeal cancer and gastroesophageal regurgitation with the TaperGuard Evac tracheal tube (TaperGuard) and Pentax-AWS Airwayscope (AWS). A 63-year-old man with hypopharyngeal cancer with invasion to the glottis was scheduled for total laryngectomy under general anesthesia. He had undergone thoracic esophagectomy and could not maintain supine position due to severe gastroesophageal regurgitation. To avoid vomiting after induction of anesthesia, we planned awake intubation in the sitting position with the AWS...

BACKGROUND: Microaspiration of vomitus can cause a serious condition known as Mendelson's syndrome. The present study used simulated stomach contents and an airway model to compare a tracheal tube with a tapered cuff (Taper) to the conventional high volume low pressure cuff (HVLP) in their abilities to prevent microaspiration. METHODS: The automated cuff pressure was adjusted to 10, 20, and 30 cmH2O. We poured 5 ml of simulated stomach contents above the cuff in the vertically situated airway model and measured the leakage volume after 5 minutes as well as 4 hours...