Health devices
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We evaluated 5 portable volume ventilators from 4 manufacturers. Ventilation requirements in general patient care areas in the hospital differ from those for home care; therefore, we considered use of the units for these applications separately. ⋯ The primary conditions for acceptable hospital use are that exhaled-volume monitoring be performed for all patients and that O2 monitoring be performed both when setting FIO2 and continuously when FIO2 levels are critical. For home care, users should carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each unit and base their choice of a unit primarily on individual patient needs, ease of use, and safety factors.