Respiratory care
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In a spontaneously breathing 3-dimensional printed nasal airway model of a preterm neonate, CPAP performance was assessed based on delivered pressure, oxygen level, and humidity at different settings. ⋯ Performance testing of the bubble CPAP system demonstrated accurate control of CPAP and oxygen concentration with humidity levels suitable for premature newborns on noninvasive support.
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The growing number of patients on home mechanical ventilation has driven considerable progress in the performance and functionality of ventilators, with features comparable with those used in the ICU. However, a publication gap exists in the evaluation and comparison of their performance and each ventilator choice depends on machine characteristics defined by manufacturers. ⋯ Great variability in terms of technical performance was observed among the 8 home-care ventilators analyzed. Asynchronies became a major issue when home mechanical ventilation was used under higher pressure-support values and lower muscle efforts. Our results may prove to be useful in helping choose the best suited machine based on a patient's clinical therapy needs.