Respiratory care
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Observational Study
Assessment of Detectable Serum Tobramycin Concentrations in Patients Receiving Inhaled Tobramycin for Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia.
Inhaled tobramycin can be used for empiric or definitive therapy of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in mechanically ventilated patients. This is believed to minimize systemic exposure and potential adverse drug toxicities including acute kidney injury (AKI). However, detectable serum tobramycin concentrations have been reported after inhaled tobramycin therapy with AKI. ⋯ Detectable serum tobramycin concentrations were frequently observed in critically ill, mechanically ventilated subjects receiving empiric inhaled tobramycin for VAP. Subject age and PEEP were independent predictors for detectable serum tobramycin concentration. Serum monitoring and empiric dose reductions should be considered in older patients and those requiring higher PEEP.
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Clinical Trial
β Agonist Delivery by High-Flow Nasal Cannula During COPD Exacerbation: A Prospective Physiological Study.
Whereas high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) oxygen therapy is increasingly used in patients with exacerbation of COPD, the effectiveness of β 2 agonist nebulization through HFNC has been poorly assessed. We hypothesized that salbutamol vibrating-mesh nebulization through HFNC improves pulmonary function tests in subjects with COPD. ⋯ In subjects with severe exacerbation of COPD, salbutamol vibrating-mesh nebulization through HFNC induced a significant bronchodilator effect with volume and flow improvement.
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Aerosol delivery via high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) has been increasingly used in recent years. However, the effects of different HFNC devices, nebulizer types, and placement on aerosol deposition remain largely unknown. ⋯ During transnasal aerosol delivery, the vibrating mesh nebulizer generated a higher inhaled dose than did the small-volume nebulizer when the nebulizer was placed at the humidifier. With the vibrating mesh nebulizer placed at the humidifier and an HFNC flow > 10 L/min, the inhaled dose was higher than with the vibrating mesh nebulizer placed proximal to the nasal cannula, and the inhaled dose was higher with Optiflow than with Airvo 2.
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Mechanical ventilators display detailed waveforms which contain a wealth of clinically relevant information. Although much has been written about interpretation of waveforms and patient-ventilator interactions, variability remains on the nomenclature (multiple and ambiguous terms) and waveform interpretation. ⋯ In addition, there is no widely accepted systematic method to read ventilator waveforms. We propose a standardized nomenclature and taxonomy along with a method to interpret mechanical ventilator displayed waveforms.