Respiratory care
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Several new generation neonatal ventilators that incorporate conventional as well as high frequency ventilation (HFOV) have appeared on the market. Most of them offer the possibility to use HFOV in a volume-targeted mode, despite absence of any preclinical data. With a bench test, we evaluated the performances of 4 new neonatal HFOV devices and compared them to the SensorMedics HFOV device. ⋯ These new generation neonatal ventilators were able to deliver adequate V(T) under pre-term infant, but not term infant respiratory system conditions. The clinical relevance of these findings will need to be determined by further studies.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Oxygenation With a Single Portable Pulse-Dose Oxygen-Conserving Device and Combined Stationary and Portable Oxygen Delivery Devices in Subjects With COPD.
Portable oxygen devices simplify and facilitate patient therapy. This study was designed to compare S(pO2) and patient satisfaction with a portable oxygen concentrator or a combined system consisting of a fixed device with continuous-flow oxygen dispensation and a portable device with pulse dispensation for ambulation. ⋯ Subjects preferred using a single portable oxygenation system both at home and during ambulation. Portable systems alone, however, did not supply the same levels of oxygenation as the combination of fixed and portable systems. Before the widespread adoption of portable systems as a single device, additional studies are needed to determine best-practice protocols for adjustment of daytime and nighttime oxygenation settings. (ClinicalTrials.gov registration NCT02079753).
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Sialorrhea or drooling represents quite a common problem in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In this review, we describe the possible treatments for this issue. ⋯ In this review, we also explore the possible surgical options for treatment of sialorrhea. Although no specific studies have been conducted on patients with ALS, surgical therapies might represent a valid option for treatment of sialorrhea since there is no tachyphylaxis or need for repeated therapeutic sessions.