Loading...
A number of studies have called into question the practice of cricoid pressure (CP) — meant to occlude the esophagus and prevent aspiration during intubation but often resulting in worsened glottis views and more difficult tube passage — during intubation (NEJM JW Emerg Med Mar 2016 and Br J Anaesth 2016; 116:413; NEJM JW Emerg Med Sep 2014 and Anaesthesia 2014; 69:878; NEJM JW Emerg Med Aug 2010 and Resuscitation 2010; 81:810). Australian researchers used weighing scales to measure CP in real time during direct laryngoscopy, randomizing CP operators to be able or unable to see the scale in order to achieve the target pressure of 30 to 40 newtons. Their primary outcome was the difference in pepsin detection rates as a marker of esophageal o…