title: Simple, reliable replacement of pilot balloons for a variety of clinical situations.
abstract: When a pilot balloon fails or is an impediment to an intubation, such as via a pediatric laryngeal mask, options are generally limited to a tracheal tube exchange. Simple and effective solutions are described to replace a pilot balloon in a variety of clinical situations by using equipment that is readily available in operating rooms. Equipment such as intravenous catheters or epidural clamp connectors provides reliable, light weight, and streamlined substitutions for pilot balloons when connected to the pilot-cuff inflation line.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. pete.kovatsis@childrens.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Pete G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Kovatsis
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Fiadjoe
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Stricker
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D017214:Laryngeal Masks; D008046:Lip / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D010855:Pierre Robin Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D014059:Tongue / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery