[Variation in the intracuff pressure of the tracheal tube during general anesthesia without nitrous oxide--the comparison of gas-barrier cuff and conventional "high-volume, low-pressure" cuff].

We measured the intracuff pressure of two different tracheal tubes, Portex Profile Soft-Seal Cuff with high N2O gas-barrier property and "high-volume, low-pressure" cuff (Mallincrodt Lo-Contour). Twenty adult patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery, were maintained with total intravenous anesthesia combined with epidural block, and ventilated with oxygen in air (FIO2 = 0.4).