Skip to main content
Fig. 1 | Critical Care

Fig. 1

From: In vivo calibration of esophageal pressure in the mechanically ventilated patient makes measurements reliable

Fig. 1

Static esophageal balloon pressure-volume curves. Relationship between balloon filling volume and static values of Pes, both at end-expiration (PesEE, circles) and at end-inspiration (PesEI, squares). On the end-expiratory pressure-volume (PV) curve, the intermediate linear section was graphically detected and analyzed for its lower and upper limits (VMIN and VMAX, respectively). The range between VMIN and VMAX was considered to correspond to appropriate balloon filling, with volumes below VMIN denoting underfilling and volumes above VMAX denoting overdistention. The elastance of the esophagus (cmH2O/ml) was considered equivalent to the slope of this section of the end-expiratory PV curve. Within the appropriate filling range, we identified VBEST, i.e., the filling volume associated with the maximum difference between PesEI and PesEE. Pes esophageal pressure

Back to article page