Resp Care
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The prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of SDB in patients admitted to a long-term acute care (LTAC) hospital who weaned from PMV. ⋯ There may be a high prevalence of unrecognized SDB in patients who are candidates for decannulation after weaning from PMV.
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Pathogens in healthcare settings can be transmitted via skin contact and environmental media. This study investigates bacterial contamination rate on surfaces of mechanical ventilator systems and bedside equipment. An experimental study evaluates the effectiveness of 75% alcohol in killing bacteria on surfaces. ⋯ The surfaces of ventilator systems, including faceplates, Y-pieces, and water traps, must be disinfected frequently (at least every 8 h) to control bacterial growth. Disinfection using 75% alcohol spray with air drying effectively decreased S. aureus on ventilator system surfaces.
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CPAP is the first choice for most patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but the adherence to CPAP is suboptimal. The purpose of this study was to assess the adherence to CPAP therapy of Chinese OSA patients with CPAP therapy. ⋯ The CPAP adherence is low in Tianjin, China. Only one half of these patients remained adherent to the treatment, and the other one half of these patients either never initiated the treatment or had abandoned CPAP use. To improve CPAP adherence, the medical staff should pay attention to making the titration trial a comfortable first CPAP experience for the patients. It is also very important to give the patients education and support about CPAP use in the follow-up, especially early on in this treatment.
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The measurement of the maximal inspiratory pressure (P(Imax)) is of great importance in choosing the time for the start of weaning. ⋯ Within an observation period of 60 seconds, the majority of patients reached the maximal inspiratory peak between 40.1 and 60 seconds. Older patients were found to have lower P(ImaxUV) values, whereas higher values for P(0.1) strongly correlated with higher P(ImaxUV) values. These findings are potentially useful to improve successful weaning prediction in the future, but further studies are needed to better clarify this issue.
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Currently the common pathogenetic mechanisms in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are gaining increased attention. The aim of this study is to find out the influence of chronic intermittent hypoxemia and OSA related parameters to the severity of NAFLD. ⋯ The prevalence of NAFLD was higher in patients with severe OSA, suggesting a role for nocturnal hypoxemia in the pathogenesis of fatty liver disease.