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Abstract

Introduction: Tracheostomy tube manometry allows objective evaluation of intra-tracheal pressures during the use of a speaking valve. The use of tracheal manometry promptly identifies which patients may or may not tolerate the use of a speaking valve or capping when assessing for decannulation. Currently tracheostomy manometry is done with a variety of non-disposable airway pressure measuring devices. With the current devices, clinicians and/or departments using these non-disposable devices must purchase, clean, maintain, and protect them for prolonged use. The disposable manometer is easily assembled using a disposable pressure manometer (Ambu Inc.), a disposable swivel connector (Covidien, Inc.,) and a 15mm ID connector with pressure sample port to simulate commercial manometers. Use of the inexpensive disposable manometer has the potential to eliminate cost and maintenance barriers to routine tracheal manometry. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that a tracheal manometry device constructed using a disposable airway pressure manometer is as accurate as a commercially available non-disposable manometer. Methods: The purpose of our study was to first determine the initial accuracy of 60 AMBU disposable airway manometers. The AMBU disposable airway manometers were compared to a commercially available non-disposable manometer used in respiratory care (Rusch). Then the disposable and non-disposable manometers were compared to a certified calibrating manometer (FlukeCalibrating Manometer). Results: When all samples were compared, there were no differences in either the AMBU disposable airway pressure manometer or the Rusch airway pressure manometer when compared to the Fluke calibrating manometer. A Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was computed with SPSS Version 12 (Chicago, IL) to assess the relationship between the current assessment tool (Rusch) to the disposable device (Ambu) and the bench device (Fluke) to assess manometry. There was a strong positive correlation between all of the variables (r=.997, n= 178, p =.000). Conclusions: A disposable manometer costing as little as 10% of commercial manometers is clinically accurate and maintains accuracy through up to 50 simulated clinical uses.