An Innovative Technique to Prevent Air Leaks from Cervical Esophagostomy during Face Mask Ventilation.

During face mask ventilation, invariably, some air enters the esophagus rather than the airways; this results in gastric insufflation while the esophagus is intact or loss of tidal volume in patients with a cervical esophagostomy (Cx-esophagostomy). Objective: The objective of the study was to report the indigenous use of an electrocardiography (ECG) electrode in successfully occluding the Cx-esophagostomy to prevent inadvertent loss of tidal volume. Materials and Methods: Twenty-nine observations were recorded on 27 patients (mean age: 10.9 months; male:female = 2.6:1). The oral cavity, pharynx, and Cx-esophagostomy were cleared of saliva. Peristomal area was cleaned with dry gauze and dried with alcohol. Latex-free, 50 mm, ECG electrode was pasted symmetrically over the Cx-esophagostomy. The efficacy of the electrode was assessed using a five-point algorithm: (i) collapse of reservoir bag, (ii) chest expansion, (iii) ballooning of electrode, (iv) cotton-wisp test, and (v) change in compliance with manual compression of the electrode. Subgroup analysis was conducted for laterality and health of Cx-esophagostomy. Results: Study cohort: Cx-esophagostomy was located on the left in 58.26% ( Conclusions: The ECG electrode is a technically simple, cost-effective, and widely available device, instrumental in addressing the problem of air leak through Cx-esophagostomy during face mask ventilation before intubation.