Resp Care
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Because of the temperature extremes encountered during emergency resuscitation and transport in the field, we sought to evaluate the performance and safety of 10 adult resuscitators (5 permanent units: Hope 4, Laerdal, Lifesaver, Mark 3, and PMR; and 5 disposable units: BagEasy, Code Blue, CPR Bag, DMR, and SPUR) across an operational temperature range of -18 degrees C to 50 degrees C. ⋯ We conclude that only the Code Blue and DMR meet the ASTM and ISO standards for operator-powered adult resuscitators across the operational temperature range of -18 degrees C to 50 degrees C.
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Comparative Study
Comparing RCPs to physicians for the description of lung sounds: are we accurate and can we communicate?
Precise communication among clinicians of chest-auscultation findings depends on use of standardized nomenclature for lung sounds. To identify the current practice of clinicans in describing lung sounds, we surveyed physicians and respiratory care practitioners (RCPs). ⋯ All three groups of clinicians need to improve their ability to recognize and describe lung sounds.
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Transport of critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients from intensive care units for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures has become common in the last decade. Maintenance of adequate oxygenation and ventilation during transport is mandatory. We evaluated the Hamilton MAX transport ventilator in the laboratory and in the clinical arena to determine its usefulness during in-hospital transport. ⋯ The MAX is a reliable transport ventilator, capable of maintaining adequate ventilation and oxygenation in a majority of mechanically ventilated patients. Care should be taken to assure adequate VT delivery at high PIP, and ventilator rate may require adjustment to prevent tachypnea associated with triggering the non-PEEP-compensated demand valve when PEEP greater than 8 cm H2O [0.8 kPa] is used.