Cadaveric validation of porcine model suggests noninvasive positive pressure ventilation may be safe following esophagectomy.

Background: We previously used a pig model to demonstrate that noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) may be a safe alternative to endotracheal intubation (ET). We sought to validate our model by quantifying the pressure threshold of esophageal anastomoses in human cadavers as a step before a clinical trial.

Methods: We performed stapled side-to-side, functional end-to-end esophageal anastomoses in 10 cadaveric specimens from autopsy.