Efficiency of a pneumatic device in controlling cuff pressure of polyurethane-cuffed tracheal tubes: a randomized controlled study

Table 1 Patient characteristics at ICU admission

Variables	All patients n = 64	Tapered cuff n = 32	Cylindrical cuff n = 32	P*
Age	66 (55–75)	66 (58–77)	66 (54–72)	0.330
Male gender	43 (67)	20 (62)	23 (71)	0.594
SAPS II	45 (32–62)	45 (29–62)	42 (37–62)	0.289
LOD score	6 (3–9)	6 (2–10)	6 (4–9)	0.818
Comorbidities
Diabetes mellitus	16 (25)	10 (31)	6 (18)	0.386
COPD	23 (35)	11 (34)	12 (37)	>0.999
Cardiovascular disease	12 (18)	7 (21)	5 (15)	0.749
Cirrhosis	1 (1)	1 (3)	0	>0.999
Causes for ICU admission
Acute exacerbation of COPD	18 (28)	10 (31)	8 (25)	0.781
ARDS	7 (10)	3 (9)	4 (12)	>0.999
Septic shock	15 (23)	10 (31)	5 (15)	0.238
Community-acquired pneumonia	19 (29)	8 (25)	11 (34)	0.584
Hospital acquired pneumonia	24 (37)	16 (50)	8 (25)	0.071
Congestive heart failure	4 (6)	2 (6)	2 (6)	>0.999
Neurologic failure	7 (10)	2 (6)	5 (15)	0.426
Poisoning	3 (4)	2 (6)	1 (3)	>0.999
Soft tissue infetion	2 (3)	0	2 (6)	0,492

Data are frequencies (%) or median (Interquartile range).
SAPS, simplified acute physiology score; LOD, logistic organ dysfunction; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; ARDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome. Some patients had more than one cause for ICU admission.
*P values are for comparisons of tapered with cylindrical cuff.

ISSN: 1471-2253