Measuring tracheal airway pressures during transtracheal jet ventilation: an observational study*

Abstract

Tracheal airway pressures were measured via a transduced fibrescope during transtracheal jet ventilation in 10 patients. Ravussin transtracheal jet ventilation catheters were inserted under local anaesthesia. Following induction of general anaesthesia, tracheal airway pressures were measured at three anatomical levels during fibreoptic intubation. Overall pressure changes during transtracheal jet ventilation were small with the maximal pressure increase (13 mmHg) measured at the carina.