Hemodynamic and respiratory effects of negative tracheal pressure during CPR in pigs.

Background: A new device, the intrathoracic pressure regulator (ITPR), was developed to generate continuous negative intrathoracic pressure during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and allow for intermittent positive pressure ventilation. Use of the ITPR has been shown to increase vital organ perfusion and short-term survival rates in pigs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the hemodynamic and blood gas effects of more prolonged (15 min) use of the ITPR during CPR in a porcine model of cardiac arrest.

An evaluation of McCoy balloon laryngoscopy in patients with moderate-to-major endotracheal intubation difficulty.

Unlabelled: We hypothesized that combined McCoy-balloon laryngoscopy may facilitate airway management relative to McCoy or balloon laryngoscopy. In 10 anesthetized/paralyzed patients with prior intubation difficulty scale scores of >5, McCoy-balloon laryngoscopy versus conventional/balloon/McCoy laryngoscopies resulted in greater laryngeal aperture exposure (2.3 +/- 0.

Prone position improves lung mechanical behavior and enhances gas exchange efficiency in mechanically ventilated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

Unlabelled: Pronation might favorably affect respiratory system (rs) mechanics and function in volume-controlled, mode-ventilated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. We studied 10 COPD patients, initially positioned supine (baseline supine [supine(BAS)]) and then randomly and consecutively changed to protocol supine (supine(PROT)), semirecumbent, and prone positions. Rs mechanics and inspiratory work (W(I)) were assessed at baseline (0.