Transpulmonary Pressure Gradients in High Frequency Oscillation

Patients with severe lung conditions occasionally require support with a special ventilator (breathing machine) called the High Frequency Oscillator (HFO). Effective ventilation requires that the pressure generated by the ventilator be as high as possible but not too high as this can damage the lungs. In patients on HFO, there is not a well defined way to measure this pressure. We will insert a small probe into the esophagus of patients on HFO to see if this is an accurate way to measure lung pressures for these patients. A better understanding of these pressures could lead to improved patient care.