The ‘Umbrella Furling’ Deflation Technique for Cuffed Tracheostomy Tube
- A Useful Tip for An Easier Tracheostomy Insertion
Abstract
Key points: • When deflated, folds often form in the balloon cuff of a
tracheostomy tube resulting in additional friction when inserting the
tube. • Furthermore, this potentially increases the risk of cuff
rupture, particularly in patients with calcified tracheas and iatrogenic
tracheal injury from using excessive physical force when inserting a
tracheostomy tube. • The ‘Umbrella Furling’ technique for deflating the
cuff of a tracheostomy tube is a simple approach whereby the cuff is
slowly deflated with a damp gauze wrapped around it while simultaneously
twisting the tracheostomy tube. • This enables the deflated cuff to sit
flush to the tube, therefore allowing an easier “reduced-friction”
insertion of a cuffed tracheostomy tube and reducing the risk of damage
to the cuff. • The same technique can be used to facilitate the
insertion of endotracheal tubes through an enclosed laryngoscope.