• K Maruyama, S Morohashi, Y Fukakura, H Takeuchi, T Miyaji, T Tsuji, T Hasegawa, K Eguchi, Y Usuda, and T Andoh.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Teikyo University, School of Medicine, University Hospital Mizonokuchi, 3-8-3 Mizonokuchi, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 213-8507, Japan maru555md@yahoo.co.jp.
• Br J Anaesth. 2014 Sep 1; 113 (3): 491-500.

BackgroundWe wanted to demonstrate the feasibility of a novel computer-assisted ventilator alarm system, the support system for care of mechanically ventilated patients (SCMVP), to detect gas leaks and provide graphical information on the site of the leak in a manikin model.MethodsWe tested six leakage scenarios. Four scenarios were applied to both the respiratory circuits with the SCMVP and without the SCMVP (conventional system), and two scenarios were each specific to one of the systems. Fifteen registered nurses were asked to manage three scenarios each (two mutual and one system-specific scenario). Time to identify the site of the leak was measured and compared between the two systems.ResultsThe SCMVP showed significantly shorter time for troubleshooting in one of the four mutual scenarios and shorter accumulated time for troubleshooting in the four mutual scenarios [18.0 (range, 14.5-19.5) and 48.5 (9.0-180.0) s, respectively] compared with the conventional system [76.0 (47.0-133.8) and 82.5 (16.0-180.0) s, respectively]. In the mutual scenarios, SCMVP resulted in significantly more frequent incidences of successful troubleshooting within 30 s and less frequent incidences of troubleshooting requiring >180 s [43.3% (13/30) and 6.7% (2/30), respectively] compared with the conventional system [13.3% (4/30) and 30% (9/30), respectively].ConclusionsThe SCMVP can facilitate rapid and successful recognition of the site of leak in a respiratory circuit in a simulation environment.© The Author [2014]. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Journal of Anaesthesia. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

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