More Evidence on Cricoid Pressure to Prevent Regurgitation

The effectiveness of cricoid pressure in occluding the esophageal entrance remains a topic of debate, partly because the maneuver can make intubation or placement of an extraglottic device more difficult. Researchers assessed ability to pass a gastric tube through the esophageal opening (used as a marker of the potential for regurgitation) with and without application of cricoid pressure in 107 nonobese, American Society of Anesthesiologists class I and II elective surgery patients who were sedated, paralyzed, and manually ventilated. A bedside scale was used to standardize 30 N of force for each application of cricoid pressure. Using a GlideScope to visualize the glottis and esophageal entrance, an operator blinded to use of cricoid pressu…