PC based new software developed to create an input pilot balloon data file to an alternative to Hand Held Data Logger (HHDL) for using PC based SAMEER Pibal computation software

Pilot balloon observatories of India Meteorological Department (IMD) are using Hand Held Data Logger (HHDL), manufactured by SAMEER, to compute upper air data since 2007. The HHDL, which is a sleek and microcontroller based battery operated unit, accepts all information through the numeric keypad pertaining to the PB ascent for raw file generation and pilot balloon data processing. The raw file can be transferred to computer system as an input file to PC based Pibal computation software. This software generates Pibal messages similar to HHDL in addition to National Data Centre (NDC) data format and monthly climate. In case of any failure of hardware, both HHDL & PC based Pibal computation software cannot be used. Therefore to overcome this problem, a PC based Pibal data keying software has been developed using visual C sharp. The new software, what is developed, creates an input file similar to HHDL; it was tested with PC based Pibal computation software which works successfully as an alternate in case of failure of HHDL & it’s hardware accessories

Effects of Head and Neck Position on Nasotracheal Tube Intracuff Pressure: A Prospective Observational Study

To prevent endotracheal tube-related barotrauma or leakage, the intracuff pressure should be adjusted to 20–30 cm H2O. However, changes in the nasotracheal tube intracuff pressure relative to neck posture are unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of head and neck positioning on nasotracheal tube intracuff pressure. Fifty adult patients with nasotracheal tubes who were scheduled for surgery under general anesthesia were enrolled. Following intubation, intracuff pressure was measured by connecting the pilot balloon to a device that continuously monitors the intracuff pressure. Subsequently, the intracuff pressure was set to 24.48 cm H2O (=18 mmHg) for the neutral position. We recorded the intracuff pressures based on the patients’ position during head flexion, extension, and rotation. The initial intracuff pressure was 42.2 cm H2O [29.6–73.1] in the neutral position. After pressure adjustment in the neutral position, the intracuff pressure was significantly different from the neutral to flexed (p < 0.001), extended (p = 0.003), or rotated (p < 0.001) positions. Although the median change in intracuff pressure was <3 cm H2O when each patient’s position was changed, overinflation to >30 cm H2O occurred in 12% of patients. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the intracuff pressure after tracheal intubation and each positional change.

Thermodynamic model for a pilot balloon

In the early part of the 20th century, tracking a pilot balloon from the ground with an optical theodolite was one of the few methods that was able to provide information from the upper air. One of the most significant sources of error with this method, however, was involved in calculating the balloon height as a function of time, a calculation dependent on the ascent rate which was traditionally taken to be constant. This study presents a new thermodynamic model which allows us to compute the thermal jump between the surrounding environment and the lifting gas as a function of different parameters such as the atmospheric temperature lapse rate or the physical characteristics of the balloon. The size of the thermal jump and its effect on the ascent rate is discussed for a 30 g pilot balloon, which was the type used at the Ebro Observatory (EO) between 1952 and 1963. The meridional and zonal components of the wind profile from ground level up to 10 km altitude were computed by applying the model using EO digitized data for a sample of this period. The obtained results correlate very well with those obtained from the ERA5 reanalysis. A very small thermal jump with a weak effect on the computed ascent rate was found. This ascent rate is consistent with the values assigned in that period to the balloons filled with hydrogen used at the Ebro Observatory and to the 30 g balloons filled with helium used by the US National Weather Service.

Measurement reliability of endotracheal tubes cuff pressure between industrial and handmade devices

Introduction: The cuff pressure is measured in industrial equipment, however, be valid in the craft equipment is still questioned. Objective: To evaluate the reliability of the measurement methods of cuff pressure endotracheal tubes with industrialized and handmade equipment. Method: Were analyzed 40 endotracheal tubes, two brands (Solidor and Ruschelit) and different diameter (8,0 mm and 8,5mm), inflated 20mL of air in the pilot balloon with plastic syringe and 20 mL, followed by pressure measurement device with industrial (cmH2 O) and handmade device (mmHg). After the conversion of cmH2O values for mmHg, the reliability and agreement of measurements were performed by intra-class correlation (ICC) and Bland-Altman tests, respectively, using SPSS (version 15.0) and adopting a significance level of 5% for all comparisons. Results: The data showed similarity between the different pressure equipment, brands and diameter, and demonstrated strong correlation and agreement between the methods. Tube Rus8,0mm industrial versus handmade (28.2±5.8 vs 28.4±6.2 mmHg: ICC=0.998; bias=0.20); Tube Solidor8.0mm industrial versus handmade (75.9±1.1 vs 76.4±1.2 mmHg: ICC=0.878; bias=0.40); Tube Rus8.5mm industrial versus handmade (17.1±8.8 vs 17.8±8.9 mmHg: ICC=0.999; bias=0.67); Tube Sol8.5mm industrial versus handmade (78.7±4.7 vs 78.6±4.6 mmHg: ICC=0.996; bias=-0.1). Conclusion: The high reliability and agreement presented in this study suggest that the cuff pressure gauge handmade can be used safely to evaluate the cuff pressure of the endotracheal tube.