Presscuff's innovative tube reduces pneumonia incidence and saves lives.
Presscuff, the world's first pressure-based endotracheal tube, was founded by Emiel Suijs, former head nurse of the Intensive Care Unit at UZ Brussel, VUB Prof Dr Spapen, former head of the Intensive Care Unit, and VUB-alumnus Evert Van Meeuwen. This pioneering technology is designed to significantly reduce the incidence of pneumonia in patients receiving intensive care.
Artificial ventilation in the ICU requires the insertion of a ventilation tube into the patient's throat to deliver air directly to the lungs. Unfortunately, the use of such tubes can lead to pneumonia in up to one in four patients, with 10 to 15% of these patients dying as a result of pneumonia. By addressing this critical issue, Presscuff's groundbreaking technology has the potential to save countless lives and improve the quality of care in intensive care units worldwide.
The unique approach employed by the Presscuff tube is the management of secretions in the trachea. Instead of attempting to close the small openings in the trachea, the Presscuff tube utilizes them to obstruct the secretions. Air pressure is introduced between the two cuffs, and it naturally seeks to escape through the channels of the cuffs both upward and downward. By directing the air pressure upwards, the Presscuff tube effectively prevents secretions from flowing downward. With this innovative technology, Presscuff is poised to revolutionize the way patients in intensive care are ventilated, offering them a better chance of recovery and improving the overall quality of care in the ICU.