Micro-cuff tracheal tubes usage in paediatric general anaesthesia is a newer emerging revolution that still remains controversial. The aim of this study is to compare post-extubation morbidity and effective airway seal when using micro-cuffed ETT vs Uncuffed ETT in small children.

It is a hospital based randomized clinical trial conducted in paediatric age group. Patients aged from 8 months to 5 years were included in this study. A total of 100 ASA 1 &2 patientswere randomized into micro-cuffed TT group (n=50) and an Uncuffed TT group (n=50).ETT sizes were selected based on standard size recommendations. The parameters assessed were incidence of Post-extubation morbidity and effective airway seal.

Incidence of post-extubation morbidity was 4% in micro-cuffed group compared to 3% in uncuffed group.Mean age was 1.5yrs in cuffed and 1.9yrs in uncuffed group. The airway seal achieved with micro-cuffed tubes were more effective than uncuffed tubes and results were statistically significant (p value<0.05). Minimal cuff pressure of the TT to seal the trachea was 8.5 cm of H2O.

One recent multicentric trial has found that use of micro-cuffed tubes showed no increase in incidence of post-extubation morbidity with better airway seal compared to uncuffed tubes which correlates to our findings.

The use of micro-cuffed TT in pediatric patients provides a reliably better airway seal, improved capnographic trace and does not increase the risk of post-extubation morbidity compared to the Uncuffed TT.

Paediatric micro-cuff TT, Post- extubation morbidity