Articles: ventilators.
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Pediatr Crit Care Me · Jul 2023
Observational StudyMechanical Power Is Associated With Mortality in Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
Mechanical power (MP) transferred from the ventilator to the lungs has been proposed as a summary variable that may impact mortality in children with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). To date, no study has shown an association between higher MP and mortality in children with ARDS. ⋯ Higher MP was associated with mortality in pediatric ARDS, and PEEP appears to be the component most consistently driving this association. As higher PEEP is used in sicker patients, the association between MP and mortality may reflect a marker of illness severity rather than MP itself being causal for mortality. However, our results support future trials testing different levels of PEEP in children with ARDS as a potential means to improve outcome.
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Critical care medicine · Jun 2023
Multicenter Study Pragmatic Clinical TrialImplementation of Lung-Protective Ventilation in Patients With Acute Respiratory Failure.
We implemented a computerized protocol for low tidal volume ventilation (LTVV) to improve management and outcomes of mechanically ventilated patients with, and without, the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ⋯ We observed improved adherence to optimal ventilator management with implementation of a computerized protocol and reduction in the number of patients receiving tidal volumes greater than 8 mL/kg. We did not observe improvement in clinical outcomes.
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The exponential increase in the complexity of ventilator technology has created a growing knowledge gap that hinders education, research, and ultimately the quality of patient care. This gap is best addressed with a standardized approach to educating clinicians, just as education for basic and advanced life support classes is standardized. We have developed such a program, called Standardized Education for Ventilatory Assistance (SEVA), based on a formal taxonomy for modes of mechanical ventilation. ⋯ The first 3 levels of SEVA are free and open to the public. We are developing mechanisms to offer the other levels. Spinoffs of the SEVA program include a free smartphone app that classifies virtually all modes on all ventilators used in the United States (Ventilator Mode Map), a free biweekly online training sessions focusing on waveform interpretation (SEVA-VentRounds), and modifications to the electronic health care record system for entering and charting ventilator orders.