Correctly selecting a liquid-filled nasogastric infant feeding catheter to measure intraesophageal pressure

Intraabdominal and Thoracic Pressures in Critically Ill Patients with Suspected Intraabdominal Hypertension

“…Although this method has been previously used in clinical studies, 45 an artifact may be produced in the presence of a hydrostatic pressure gradient between the distal tip of the catheter and the transducer. 46 This does not influence the reference method for measuring esophageal pressure (balloon catheter), 47 though this technique is also not exact, due to the position and volume of the balloon. 48 In sum, the results of our study indicate that in subjects with risk factors for abdominal hypertension it is necessary to measure abdominal pressure, since clinical assessment alone is insufficient, and the patients show decreased thoracic compliance.…”