Respiratory care
-
Review
Incentive Spirometry for Prevention of Postoperative Pulmonary Complications After Thoracic Surgery.
Incentive spirometry is frequently used after thoracic surgery as an adjunct to physiotherapy. Despite its widespread use, it has remained challenging to demonstrate a clinical benefit in terms of either incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications or hospital stay. ⋯ The problem with studies published to date is that there are many limitations, not least of which is the challenge of achieving patient adherence with performing incentive spirometry as prescribed. Despite the lack of evidence, there remains an appetite for persevering with incentive spirometry in the postoperative thoracic surgical patient because it is a relatively inexpensive intervention that motivates many patients to perform regular breathing exercises long after the therapist has moved on to the next patient.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Comparing Noninvasive Ventilation Delivered Using Neurally-Adjusted Ventilatory Assist or Pressure Support in Acute Respiratory Failure.
The use of neurally-adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) during noninvasive ventilation (NIV) results in better patient-ventilator interaction. Whether this improves clinical outcomes lacks dedicated study. ⋯ The use of NAVA during NIV did not improve NIV failure rate or 28-d mortality in subjects with acute respiratory failure. However, patient-ventilator asynchrony and NIV-related complications were reduced with NAVA.
-
The ratio of end-tidal CO2 pressure to arterial partial pressure of CO2 ([Formula: see text]) was recently suggested for monitoring pulmonary gas exchange in patients with ARDS associated with COVID-19, yet no evidence was offered supporting that claim. Therefore, we evaluated whether [Formula: see text] might be relevant in assessing ARDS not associated with COVID-19. ⋯ Using [Formula: see text] as a surrogate for VD/VT may be a useful and practical measurement for both management and ongoing research into the nature of ARDS.
-
Staffing strategies used to meet the needs of respiratory care departments during the COVID-19 pandemic included the deployment of respiratory therapist extenders. The purpose of this study was to evaluate respiratory therapist extenders' comfort level with critical care ventilators while caring for patients with COVID-19. To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the deployment of certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) in a critical care setting. ⋯ Comfort level with mechanical ventilation increased for CRNAs working alongside respiratory therapists during the COVID-19 pandemic.
-
The majority of prescriptions for supplemental oxygen are written when patients are discharged to home from the hospital and the evaluation of these patients is inconsistent. Respiratory Therapists receive training in the evaluation and management of patients needing oxygen. The primary goal of the study was to estimate the frequency with which respiratory therapists (RTs) evaluate the need for home oxygen in patients hospitalized for COPD exacerbations before discharge. ⋯ RTs do not consistently evaluate patients hospitalized for COPD exacerbations for home oxygen prior to discharge, and only a minority of RTs are involved in selecting home oxygen equipment.