Resp Care
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The mechanism of high-flow oxygen therapy and the pressures reached in the airway have not been defined. We hypothesized that the flow would generate a low continuous positive pressure, and that elevated flow rates in this model could produce moderate pressures. The objective of this study was to analyze the pressure generated by a high-flow oxygen therapy system in an experimental model of the pediatric airway. ⋯ According to our hypothesis, high-flow oxygen therapy systems produced a low-level CPAP in an experimental pediatric model, even with the use of very high flow rates. Linear regression analyses showed similar linear relationships between flow and pressures measured in the pharynx and in the airway. This finding suggests that, at least in part, the effects may be due to other mechanisms.
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We report the process implemented in our institution by a task force focused on the reduction of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). ⋯ Reduction of the incidence of VAP occurred with an intervention that included respiratory therapists doing oral care in patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation. Oral care done by respiratory therapists may be associated with reduction of VAP.
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Transfusion-related acute lung injury is a serious complication of blood transfusions. Herein is a report on a 32-year-old woman who developed diffuse pulmonary infiltrates and acute respiratory compromise after blood transfusion. ⋯ The refractory hypoxemia was improved by high-frequency oscillatory ventilation. This experience suggests that high-frequency oscillatory ventilation may be beneficial for patients with transfusion-related acute lung injury and severe refractory hypoxemia.
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Endotracheal tubes (ETTs) impose a substantial respiratory work load on mechanically ventilated patients. Automatic tube compensation (ATC) should overcome this flow-dependent resistive work load; however, ETT resistance can be increased by tracheal secretions or ETT deformities. Our bench study investigated whether ATC provides effective respiratory work load relief in used ETTs. ⋯ ATC does not necessarily compensate for an ETT-imposed respiratory work load. ETT configuration changes and tracheal secretions can increase ETT resistance and decrease the ability of ATC to compensate for the increased respiratory work load.
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Practice Guideline
Humidification during invasive and noninvasive mechanical ventilation: 2012.
We searched the MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library databases for articles published between January 1990 and December 2011. The update of this clinical practice guideline is based on 184 clinical trials and systematic reviews, and 10 articles investigating humidification during invasive and noninvasive mechanical ventilation. The following recommendations are made following the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) scoring system: 1. ⋯ Passive humidification is not recommended for noninvasive mechanical ventilation. 6. When providing humidification to patients with low tidal volumes, such as when lung-protective ventilation strategies are used, HMEs are not recommended because they contribute additional dead space, which can increase the ventilation requirement and P(aCO(2)). 7. It is suggested that HMEs are not used as a prevention strategy for ventilator-associated pneumonia.