[Preclinical duty of care during cuff pressure management].

BACKGROUND: Airway morbidity is influenced by different factors. Independent of the main emergency health problem, airway morbidity factors may exacerbate a possible poor outcome (e.g., bleeding, tongue swelling, nerve lesion).
OBJECTIVES: However, insertion technique and cuff pressure management are both important for duty of care out-of-hospital emergency medicine. After securing the airway (e.g., tracheal tube or supraglottic airway device cuff), pressure measurement is necessary.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a number of recent publications, a largely forgotten issue has come into the focus of preclinical science. This issue became particularly relevant in the admitting hospital.
RESULTS: The results from the aforementioned publications show that preclinical management of cuff pressure is not taken sufficiently into consideration, resulting in possible harm to the patient. DISCUSSION: It is important and safe to use a cuff pressure device. The initial cuff pressure and if necessary corrected value should be documented.