RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Comparison of a Novel Lycra Endotracheal Tube Cuff to Standard Polyvinyl Chloride Cuff and Polyurethane Cuff for Fluid Leak Prevention JF Respiratory Care FD American Association for Respiratory Care SP 1095 OP 1099 DO 10.4187/respcare.01099 VO 56 IS 8 A1 Theodor Kolobow A1 Massimo Cressoni A1 Myra Epp A1 Ivan Corti A1 Paolo Cadringher A1 Alberto Zanella YR 2011 UL http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/56/8/1095.abstract AB BACKGROUND: A high-volume low-pressure endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff forms folds along its contact with the trachea, allowing mucus leakage into the lungs. We developed a thin-walled ETT cuff made of Lycra polyurethane. METHODS: In vitro, we tested 6 of each of the new prototype Lycra cuff, the Mallinkrodt Hi-Lo ETT (polyvinyl chloride cuff), and the Kimberly-Clark Microcuff ETT (polyurethane cuff), for leakage, in an acrylic mock trachea (inner diameter 20-mm), with a cuff inflation pressure of 20 cm H2O. We poured 15 mL of methylene-blue colored water into the acrylic tube above the cuff and observed for leakage for 24 hours. RESULTS: The Lycra cuffs had no folds upon inflation in the mock trachea and completely prevented fluid leakage for 24 hours (P < .001 vs the Hi-Lo and the Microcuff). The average leakage past the Hi-Lo was 1,182 ± 1,321 mL/h. The average leakage past the Microcuff was 1.2 ± 0.4 mL/h (P < .001 vs the Hi-Lo). CONCLUSIONS: Our Lycra cuff provided complete tracheal sealing in vitro.