Resp Care
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Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) has become a valuable technique in the critical care of children with congenital heart disease who require mechanical cardiorespiratory support. The use of VA ECMO in cardiac patients has expanded from an extension of intraoperative cardiopulmonary bypass and now includes rescue therapy during cardiopulmonary resuscitation, temporary circulatory support for reversible heart failure, and bridge support preceding heart or heart/lung transplantation. In the majority of clinical applications VA ECMO is used in reaction to impending or ongoing cardiorespiratory failure and not in anticipation of an induced change in clinical status. ⋯ Following an uncomplicated ECMO course she was decannulated in the cardiac intensive care unit and subsequently discharged home in stable condition. The case illustrates the proactive use of ECMO during a procedure in which severe hemodynamic instability could be predicted. We discuss this concept of ECMO use in the context of accepted indications for ECMO in cardiac patients and encourage an expanded role for its use to prevent cardiorespiratory collapse in planned interventions on compromised patients who are at risk of acute deterioration.
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Editorial Comparative Study
New technologies for lighter portable oxygen systems.
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Oxygen-conserving devices have been the foundation of highly portable oxygen systems that enable hypoxemic chronic lung disease patients to live active lives. Pulsing demand oxygen delivery systems (DODS) can adequately oxygenate most patients at rest and usually during exercise. However, some patients desaturate during exercise at DODS settings equivalent to continuous-flow oxygen. ⋯ The redesigned Oxymatic 401 DODS maintains adequate S(pO2) during rest and exercise, but some patients require the higher delivery settings. We recommend that all patients prescribed DODS undergo exercise evaluation with the prescribed DODS to ensure efficacy and determine the DODS settings required to maintain S(pO2) at the prescribed limits.
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Lung-protective ventilation (LPV) can result in a ventilator tidal volume (V(T)) below patient V(T) demand, which may elevate work of breathing (WOB). Increasing the ventilator inspiratory flow may not sufficiently reduce WOB, because the patient's flow-time requirements may exceed the ventilator's flow-time delivery pattern. We investigated (1) the effects of V(T) demand on WOB during LPV and (2) which ventilator pattern best reduced WOB while achieving LPV goals. ⋯ Given our dual goals of reducing both WOB and V(T) during LPV, VCV-DF with relatively brief T(I) appeared to be the best option, followed by PCV with a relatively brief T(I).