title: Comparison of tracheal and esophageal compliance curves in human cadaveric subjects.
abstract: We sought to derive compliance curves of the trachea and esophagus. 16 fresh human cadavers were intubated tracheally and esophageally and cuff pressures measured at equal air volumes. Tracheal compliance was statistically less than esophageal compliance for volumes of 1, 2, and 3 mL of air, (p = 0.002, p = 0.008, and p = 0.006, respectively) but not so for volumes beyond that. This physical property is therefore not robust enough for detecting esophageal intubation.
authors.affiliation: Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY 10029, USA. marc.russo@gmail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schaner
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Osborn
mesh_terms: D002102:Cadaver; D003187:Compliance; D004947:Esophagus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D011312:Pressure; D014132:Trachea / Q000378:metabolism*