During emergency anesthesia (rapid sequence induction) , a firm pressure is applied to the cricoid cartilage of the patient in order to prevent passive regurgitation of gastric content into the pharynx. This maneuver is called cricoid pressure. Cricoid pressure is often performed incorrectly, due to difficulties to locate the cricoid cartilage in many patients. Despite this, the effectiveness of an incorrectly applied cricoid pressure has not been investigated. In this study we have used high-resolution manometry (HRM) to evaluate pressures in the upper esophagus during correctly applied cricoid pressure (against the cricoid cartilage) compared to incorrectly applied cricoid pressure (against the thyroid cartilage and against the trachea) during a rapid sequence induction.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
20
Correct Cricoid pressure applied against the cricoid cartilage, Incorrect Cricoid pressure applied against the thyroid cartilage and trachea
Örebro University Hospital
Örebro, Sweden
difference in pressure (mmHg), detected by high resolution solid state manometry, between correctly vs incorrectly applied cricoid pressure
Time frame: 15 sec. during ongoing cricoid pressure application
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