Chest
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Comparative Study
Comparison of the esophageal obturator airway and endotracheal intubation in prehospital ventilation during CPR.
The esophageal obturator airway (EOA), esophagogastric tubular airway (EGT) and endotracheal (ET) intubation are compared as they relate to blood gases during CPR. Although statistically better levels of gases are obtained with the endotracheal tube in patients who had an EOA inserted previously, no difference in survival is noted in a separate prospective and retrospective series of patients in whom the devices were used in the field. ⋯ It would appear that patients with a PO2 of less than 60 mm Hg do not tend to survive. The endotracheal tube remains the gold standard, although its universal use is impractical, while the EOA would appear to be an effective alternative and an important airway adjunct in the prehospital phase of CPR.
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Comparative Study
Intracuff pressures in endotracheal and tracheostomy tubes. Related cuff physical characteristics.
This study compared intracuff pressure (ICP) during mechanical ventilation in a variety of currently used endotracheal (ET) and tracheostomy (trach) tube cuffs and related cuff physical characteristics. Tracheostomy tube physical characteristics were also measured. Variation was observed to exist between "just-seal" inspiratory and end-expiratory intracuff pressure during mechanical ventilation. ⋯ Thin, large-diameter, compliant cuffs generally "just seal" with relatively low ICPs. We recommend use of tracheal airways (endotracheal and tracheostomy) fitted with cuffs that seal in patients with low intracuff pressures. We also recommend nonrigid (soft) thermolabile tracheostomy tubes.