Respiratory care
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Comparative Study
In-Person Versus Remote 6-Minute Walk and Incremental Shuttle Walk Distances in Advanced Lung Disease.
Field-based walk tests conducted remotely may provide an alternative method to a facility-based assessment of exercise capacity for people with advanced lung disease. This prospective study evaluated the level of agreement in the distance walked between a 6-min walk test (6MWT) and an incremental shuttle walk test performed by using standard in-person procedures and test variations and settings. ⋯ Differences in the distance walked may have resulted from different track lengths, widths, and walking surfaces. This should be considered in test interpretation if tests are repeated under different conditions.
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Three-dimensional (3D)-printed models are cost-effective and can be customized by trainers. This study designed a 3D-printed airway suction simulator for use by respiratory therapy (RT) students. The objective was to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness and application of 3D-printed models in respiratory care training, aiming to enhance the educational experience for RT students. ⋯ This study demonstrated that 3D printing can be used to create a safe and cost-effective airway suction simulator for use by RT students, with potential to enhance training methods. Further research is necessary.
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Open respiratory secretion suctioning with a catheter causes pain and tracheobronchial mucosal injury in intubated patients. The goal of mechanical insufflation-exsufflation (MI-E) is to move secretions proximally and noninvasively by generating a high peak expiratory air flow. Nebulized hypertonic saline with hyaluronic acid (HS-HA) may facilitate suctioning by hydration. We assessed the safety and tolerance of a single session of airway clearance with MI-E and HS-HA in critically ill intubated patients. ⋯ We observed no difference in adverse events. MI-E avoids pain and agitation.