Respiratory care
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Secondhand exposure to fugitive aerosols may cause airway diseases in health providers. We hypothesized that redesigning aerosol masks to be closed-featured would reduce the fugitive aerosol concentrations during nebulization. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of a mask designed for a jet nebulizer on the concentration of fugitive aerosols and delivered doses. ⋯ Mask design influences fugitive aerosol concentrations in the environment, and a filtered mask reduces the concentration of aerosols at 3 different distances and with 2 breathing patterns.
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The next step following acceptance of an abstract submitted for a scientific meeting is to create the poster. Poster presentations provide an avenue for dissemination of research findings as well as the opportunity to highlight the work and network with other clinicians. Requirements for poster presentations vary among scientific meetings. ⋯ Practicing the presentation prior to the meeting, anticipating questions, and being familiar with the poster content are principal factors in preparing for the presentation. Oral presentations for posters are typically brief and should only focus on the key points. The purpose of this paper is to review poster design and provide general guidelines for presenting an abstract at a scientific meeting.
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Without a literature review, there can be no research project. Literature reviews are necessary to learn what is known (and not known) about a topic of interest. In the respiratory care profession, the body of research is enormous, so a method to search the medical literature efficiently is needed. ⋯ Reference management tools assist with organizing the evidence found from the search. Analyzing the search results and writing the review provides an understanding of why the research question is important and its meaning. Spending time in reviewing published literature reviews can serve as a guide or model for understanding the components and style of a well-written literature review.
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The recommended treatment of COPD exacerbations includes administration of short-acting bronchodilators that act to reverse bronchoconstriction, restore lung volumes, and relieve breathlessness. In vitro studies demonstrate vibrating mesh nebulizers (VMNs) provide greater drug delivery to the airway compared to standard small-volume nebulizers (SVNs). We examined whether the physiological and symptom response to nebulized bronchodilators during a COPD exacerbation differed between these 2 modes of bronchodilator delivery. ⋯ Greater improvement in symptoms, and larger absolute change in FVC, was observed in response to equivalent doses of standard bronchodilators administered by VMN, compared to SVN, but no substantial difference in change in IC.
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Endotracheal suctioning is resource demanding, causes patient discomfort, and is associated with adverse effects. A new artificial cough method has been developed for automated secretion removal by using rapid deflation and inflation of the endotracheal tube cuff during the inspiratory phase of mechanical ventilation. This method has been evaluated in a bench model and in animals but not in human subjects. The aim of this study was to investigate whether this method can remove the need for endotracheal suctioning in subjects and whether this is dependent on ventilator settings. ⋯ This study illustrated the potential for significant reduction in the clinical need for endotracheal suctioning after the use of an automated artificial cough procedure at both low and high peak inspiratory pressures, and that was well tolerated.