title: Diagnosis of tracheoesophageal fistula by analysis of gastric air.
abstract: Two patients receiving positive pressure ventilation experienced marked gaseous abdominal distension. Analysis of gases from the stomach, ventilator, and room air suggested that the gastric gases came from the ventilator in one patient. The diagnosis of tracheoesophageal fistula was confirmed by esophagoscopy. Analysis of gases in the other patient did not support the suspicion of tracheoesophageal fistula, and no fistula was found at autopsy. The technique of gastric air analysis is presented as a simple supporting tool for the clinical diagnosis of tracheoesophageal fistula in patients receiving positive pressure ventilation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Kovitz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siebens
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Brower
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005740:Gases / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D012008:Recurrence; D013270:Stomach; D014138:Tracheoesophageal Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
chemical_list: D005740:Gases