Resuscitation
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Eight different breathing gas humidifiers were tested by humidity measurements using two independent methods under simulated clinical conditions. The comparison considering the influence of tidal volume and inspiratory/expiratory ratios revealed great differences between the individual devices depending on the kind of humidification and functional principles. ⋯ The humidifiers Bird 500 cm3 Micronebulizer, Ultrasonic Nebulizer NB 100 and Draeger Compressor 660, were strongly dependent on the respiration parameters and exceeded the required minimum of 70% relative humidity only under certain conditions. The Engstroem ER-200 Vaporizer had a low performance and was not suitable as a breathing gas humidifier for longterm ventilation.
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Recordings from three patients in cardiac arrest are shown to illustrate the importance of monitoring pulmonary perfusion by means of the capnogram as a continuous guide to the cardiac output achieved by cardiac massage and resuscitation. Such monitoring allows the performance to be adjusted to obtain the maximal result.