Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Sep 1996
Poor in vivo reproducibility of gastric intramucosal pH determined by saline-filled balloon tonometry.
The reproducibility of gastric intramucosal pH (pHi) determinations by saline-filled balloon tonometry has not been assessed adequately. We examined the agreement of pHi obtained using pairs of tonometry catheters under various conditions in a canine model of global hypoxia. ⋯ Clinically important disagreement was observed in simultaneous pHi determinations obtained using separate gastric balloon tonometry catheters exposed to identical in vivo conditions. Poor reproducibility of individual pHi determinations may limit the accuracy of pHi obtained by gastric balloon tonometry in the clinical setting.