Effect of a nasogastric tube on esophageal pressure measurement in normal adults

J. Niknam, A. Chandra, A. B. Adams, A. Nahum, S. A. Ravenscraft, John J Marini

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

We studied the correspondence between fluctuations of esophageal pressure measured before and after placement of a nasogastric (NG) tube in six normal volunteers. Flow, airway pressure, and esophageal pressure data from at least 20 breaths were recorded in seven ventilatory conditions in two body postures: 0° (supine) and 60° (upright). The conditions studied included normal quiet breathing, added resistance, reduced compliance, increased frequency, increased tidal volume, continuous positive airway pressure, and volume-cycled ventilation with positive pressure. During recording with the NG tube in place, the subject targeted the same tidal volume (VT), respiratory rate, and inspiratory time fraction (TI/TTOT) recorded before NG tube placement. A computer program selected for analysis only those recorded breaths with and without an NG tube that were 'matched' within 5 percent for both VT and TI. We calculated average VT, TI, and esophageal pressure fluctuation (ΔPes) for the matched breaths from each subject during every condition. The ΔPes values with and without NG tube were not statistically different in any tested condition (p>0.05). Our data indicate that the presence of an NG tube does not invalidate the accuracy of ΔPes measurements made using a well-positioned balloon catheter in the tested conditions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)137-141
Number of pages5
JournalCHEST
Volume106
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1994

Keywords

  • esophageal pressure
  • intensive care
  • monitoring
  • nasogastric tube
  • respiratory mechanics

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