Novel ET tubes in Human volunteers
Research type
Research Study
Full title
First in Man Evaluation of an Optical Sensor Equipped Novel Endotracheal Tube. The Moss ETT
IRAS ID
197567
Contact name
Andrew Norris
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 31 days
Research summary
Invasive ventilation via a tracheal tube is integral to critical care. However, the pressure exerted by inflatable cuffs on the tracheal wall can cause
ulceration and scarring of the trachea. In patients ventilated for more than
10 days, ~15% develop tracheal stenosis. Endotracheal/tracheostomy tubes are
responsible for ~85% of acquired tracheal stenosis.Modern “high volume, low pressure cuffs” have helped to reduce injury, but
the excess material in these large cuffs results in folding when
incompletely inflated. These folds create channels, through which infected
secretions can travel from the mouth and pharynx, past the cuff, into the
lungs, causing Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP). VAP occurs in
~20% of ventilated patients, increases length of stay by ~6 days, adding to
care costs (>$1.2bn p.a. in US), and increasing mortality up to 50%.We aim to develop an endotracheal tube incorporating optical and
pressure monitoring with a "low volume, appropriate-pressure cuff". Optical
monitoring of tracheal microcirculation and cuff pressure monitoring will
reduce injury by allowing contact pressure to be adjusted for individual
patients, and allowing a low volume cuff to be used. Low volume cuffs are
known to create a better seal.Our team has extensive experience in the application of optical
technologies to healthcare. We have successfully demonstrated that we
can identify pressure-related changes in blood flow in the mucosa.REC name
East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EE/0473
Date of REC Opinion
10 Mar 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion