Journal of clinical monitoring and computing
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Mechanical ventilation is a sophisticated technique with very narrow therapeutic ranges i.e. highly efficient and able to keep alive the most severe patients, but with considerable side effects and unwanted complications if not properly and timely used. Computerized protocols, closed loop systems, decision support, all terms which need to be defined, may help making mechanical ventilation safer and more efficient. The present paper will provide a short overview on technical and engineering considerations regarding closed loop controlled ventilation as well as tangible clinical evidences supporting the previous statement.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Feb 2014
A pilot study quantifying the shape of tidal breathing waveforms using centroids in health and COPD.
During resting tidal breathing the shape of the expiratory airflow waveform differs with age and respiratory disease. While most studies quantifying these changes report time or volume specific metrics, few have concentrated on waveform shape or area parameters. The aim of this study was to derive and compare the centroid co-ordinates (the geometric centre) of inspiratory and expiratory flow-time and flow-volume waveforms collected from participants with or without COPD. ⋯ A comparison of airflow waveforms show that in COPD, the breathing rate is faster (17 ± 4 vs 14 ± 3 min(-1)) and the time to reach peak expiratory flow shorter (0.6 ± 0.2 and 1.0 ± 0.4 s). The expiratory flow-time and flow-volume centroid is left-shifted with the increasing asymmetry of the expired airflow pattern induced by airway obstruction. This study shows that the degree of skew in expiratory airflow waveforms can be quantified using centroids.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Feb 2014
Bench test assessment of mainstream capnography during high frequency oscillatory ventilation.
To assess the feasibility, stability and predictability of pCO2 measurement (PETCO2) using a main stream capnograph in a high frequency oscillatory ventilation circuit. A commercially available capnograph was mounted into a high frequency oscillatory ventilator patient circuit, adjustable CO2 flow was introduced into an artificial lung and the output of the CO2 sensor assessed under varying ventilator settings. Influence of oxygen content, pressures, heat and moisture were recorded. ⋯ From this bench test, we conclude it is feasible to measure PETCO2 using a main stream capnograph during high frequency oscillatory conditions, these measurements were stable during the experiment. Changes in CO2 production or output can be detected. The system may prove to be of clinical value, but further in vivo measurements are warranted.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Feb 2014
Comparative StudyDetection of changes in muscle oxygen saturation in the human leg: a comparison of two near-infrared spectroscopy devices.
The purpose of this study was first to evaluate the near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) device, INVOS 4100 as a method of measuring exercise and arterial occlusion induced muscle ischemia in human leg, by comparison with InSpectra tissue spectrometer Model 325, and secondly to determine the influence of skin and subcutaneous thickness on the NIRS measurements. Twenty healthy subjects (43 ± 8 years) volunteered for the study. Tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) in the anterior tibial muscle was measured simultaneously with InSpectra Model 325 in one leg and INVOS 4100 in the contralateral leg during an exercise test until muscle exhaustion and arterial occlusion with and without exercise. ⋯ There was a significant inverse correlation between skin and subcutaneous thickness and baseline StO2 (r = -0.78, p < 0.01) as well as change in StO2 during exercise (r = -0.65, p = 0.002) for InSpectra, which was not apparent for INVOS. The results demonstrate that the cerebral/somatic oxygenation monitor (INVOS) is able to detect experimentally induced skeletal muscle ischemia in the human leg as well as the peripheral tissue spectrometer (InSpectra). Muscle oxygen saturation measurement by INVOS is less affected by skin and subcutaneous thickness than measured by InSpectra.
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J Clin Monit Comput · Feb 2014
Observational StudyCardiac output assessed by non-invasive monitoring is associated with ECG changes in children with critical asthma.
The primary aim of this study was to determine changes in CI and SI, if any, in children hospitalized with status asthmatics during the course of treatment as measured by non-invasive EC monitoring. The secondary aim was to determine if there is an association between Abnormal CI (defined as <5 or >95 % tile adjusted for age) and Abnormal ECG (defined as ST waves changes) Non-invasive cardiac output (CO) recordings were obtained daily from admission (Initial) to discharge (Final). Changes in CI and SI measurements were compared using paired t tests or 1-way ANOVA. ⋯ In children that required a prolonged course of treatment, there was also a significant decrease in SI. Abnormal CI at Initial CO recording was associated with ST waves changes on ECG during hospitalization. Future studies are required to determine whether non-invasive CO monitoring can predict which patients are at risk for developing abnormal ECG.