Resp Care
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Short-term effects of humidification devices on respiratory pattern and arterial blood gases during noninvasive ventilation.
The impact of humidification devices on ventilatory and arterial blood gases parameters during noninvasive ventilation (NIV) remains controversial. The aim of the study was to compare the short-term impact of heat and moisture exchangers (HMEs) and heated humidifiers (HHs) during NIV for either hypercapnic or hypoxemic acute respiratory failure. ⋯ Use of an HME decreased CO(2) elimination during NIV, despite increased minute ventilation, especially in hypercapnic subjects.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
CPAP has no effect on clearance, sputum properties, or expectorated volume in cystic fibrosis.
Positive expiratory pressure (PEP) is used for airway clearance in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Hypertonic saline (HTS) aerosol increases sputum expectoration volume and may improve respiratory secretion properties. CPAP may also be used to maintain airway patency and mobilize secretions. To evaluate if CPAP would increase the beneficial clearance effect of HTS in subjects with CF, we investigated the effects of CPAP alone and CPAP followed by HTS on sputum physical properties and expectoration volume in CF subjects. ⋯ CPAP alone had no effect on mucus clearance, sputum properties, or expectorated volume, and did not potentiate the effect of HTS alone in CF subjects.
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Fiberoptic bronchoscopy and lung biopsy are important diagnostic tools in patients with diffuse pulmonary infiltrates. However, these patients often have hypoxemic respiratory failure that makes this procedure hazardous. Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) has been shown to improve oxygenation in hypoxemic patients. ⋯ NIV-assisted bronchoscopic lung biopsy is a novel method for obtaining diagnosis in hypoxemic patients with diffuse lung infiltrates. However, this approach should be reserved for centers with extensive experience in NIV. More studies are required to define the utility of this approach.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Does experience influence the performance of neonatal and pediatric manual hyperinflation?
Manual hyperinflation (MH) is used to improve mucociliary clearance and alveolar expansion in mechanically ventilated patients. Despite the popularity of MH, studies with adults have shown considerable variability in the results from its use. This study assessed if professional training on the application of MH influences its performance. ⋯ The experienced and inexperienced groups were similar in their overall MH performance; the only difference was the observation of the highest PIF in the results from the experienced group.
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There are limited data on the safety and efficacy of recruitment maneuvers (RMs) in acute lung injury (ALI) patients. ⋯ Complications in adult ALI patients receiving RMs were common, but serious complications (eg, new air leak through an existing chest tube) were infrequent. There is a significant association between the number of RMs received and complications, even after controlling for illness severity and duration. Given their uncertain benefit in ALI patients, and the potential for complications with repeated application, the routine use of sustained inflation RMs is not justified.