TY - JOUR T1 - A new electronic device for intrapelural pressure measurment – A presentation of use in a patient prepared for thoracoscopy JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 38 IS - Suppl 55 SP - p605 AU - Rafal Krenke AU - Elzbieta Magdalena Grabczak AU - Marcin Michnikowski AU - Jakub Palko AU - Maciej Guc AU - Ryszarda Chazan Y1 - 2011/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p605.abstract N2 - Background: Measurement of intrapleural pressure is useful during various pleural procedures. However, the availability of electronic pleural manometers is limited.Objectives: We aimed to 1) construct an electronic pleural manometer, 2) assess the accuracy of the measurements done with a new device, 3) perform an initial evaluation of the device during thoracenthesis.Methods: A vascular pressure transducer was used to transform hydrostatic pressure into an electronic signal. Reliability of the measurements was evaluated in a laboratory setting by comparing the results with those measured by a water manometer. Functionality of the device was assessed during thoracentesis and artificial pneumothorax creation before medical thoracoscopy.Results: We built a small device, which can precisely measure intrapleural pressure. The measurement results showed a very high agreement with those registered with a water manometer (r=0.999; p<0.001). The initial evaluation of the electronic manometer during pleural fluid removal and pneumothorax creation showed the mean initial intrapleural pressure 3.85 cmH2O which decreased steadily to -8.98 cmH2O after the removal of 1600 ml of pleural fluid and increased up to -1.29 cmH2O after insertion of 1000 ml of air. The procedure was safe, the only symptom recorded was cough which appeared after the withdrawal of 900 ml of pleural fluid (intrapleural pressure -1.96 cmH2O).Conclusion: Our electronic pleural manometer can precisely measure intrapleural pressure during pleural fluid removal and pneumothorax creation. The procedure of pleural pressure monitoring during thorcentesis is easy to perform and safe. ER -