These findings describe a mechanism for false-negative results from decreased posterior tracheal wall tone during cardiac arrest. Further studies are required to elucidate factors contributing to its occurrence and impact on EDD use.

The difficult intubation is one of the most trying situations encountered in airway management. Transtracheal jet ventilation via needle cricothyroidotomy can provide temporary oxygenation in this critical situation in a minimally invasive fashion. The esophageal detector device (EDD) has been previously shown to be effective in determining the tracheal placement of endotracheal tubes. In this experiment, three commonly available EDDs are utilized to accurately identify 15 of 15 intratracheal placements of a 16-gauge i.v. catheter in five cadaveric domestic swine. The incorporation of EDDs in i.v. catheter placement for needle cricothyroidotomy is shown to be effective and merits further study. Likewise, further investigation is needed to identify a standardized apparatus for needle cricothyroidotomy in emergent situations.

UEMSD's (Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders) are complex in terms of causation, identification, treatment and intervention. The users of musculoskeletal disorders research require a better understanding how their action and responsibilities fit into the context of UEMSD causation and intervention theory, research and management. This paper describes a framework to aid in understanding the scope and multi-factorial nature of UEMSD theory, research, and management. The purpose of the framework is to provide a context in which UEMSD's can be discussed. The framework proposes a cyclical loop, which represents an individual's responses during an event cycle. The framework is composed of three elements: Life's Activities, Modifiers, and Outcomes. Both the physical state and mental state of the individual are considered. The physical characteristics of activities and environments are filtered and/or amplified by the presence of individual predisposing or protective factors, resulting in the development health outcomes. The framework espouses a chain of events and effects which shows the potential complexity of the interactions between the factors, which may or may not result in a UEMSD. The framework is discussed in terms of the need for research to broaden the understanding of the role of specific factors in the development of UEMSDs.