A comparison between two methods of measuring pressure in the pharyngeal airway: transducer probe versus open catheter.

A new multi-transducer probe system for measuring pharyngeal pressures was compared with an established open catheter system. Pharyngeal pressure measurements were made at the same time, and site, in subjects awake, at unmodified and with artificially increased nasal airway resistances, and during sleep documented by polysomnography. The two systems yielded almost identical results. It is anticipated that the multi-transducer probe system will prove of clinical value.