Evaluation of Capnography Sampling Line Compatibility and Accuracy when Used with a Portable Capnography Monitor.

Capnography is commonly used to monitor patient's ventilatory status. While sidestream capnography has been shown to provide a reliable assessment of end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2), its accuracy is commonly validated using commercial kits composed of a capnography monitor and its matching disposable nasal cannula sampling lines. The purpose of this study was to assess the compatibility and accuracy of cross-paired capnography sampling lines with a single portable bedside capnography monitor. A series of 4 bench tests were performed to evaluate the tensile strength, rise time, ETCO2 accuracy as a function of respiratory rate, and ETCO2 accuracy in the presence of supplemental O2. Each bench test was performed using specialized, validated equipment to allow for a full evaluation of sampling line performance. The 4 bench tests successfully differentiated between sampling lines from different commercial sources and suggested that due to increased rise time and decreased ETCO2 accuracy, not all nasal cannula sampling lines provide reliable clinical data when cross-paired with a commercial capnography monitor. Care should be taken to ensure that any cross-pairing of capnography monitors and disposable sampling lines is fully validated for use across respiratory rates and supplemental O2 flow rates commonly encountered in clinical settings.

Adherence to an Oxygen-Weaning Protocol in Mechanically Ventilated Adults in the Medical ICU.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing mechanical ventilation in the ICU often receive supplemental oxygen. If not closely monitored, this may lead to hyperoxia. The use of an oxygen-weaning protocol may reduce this risk by pacing the titration of oxygen therapy to patient needs. ICU protocols are correlated with decreased mortality and length of stay and have great potential for cost savings. The goals of this study were to determine whether the oxygen-weaning protocol at a university-affiliated hospital was followed and to measure the length of time respiratory therapists took to wean patients once the oxygen-weaning parameters were met. METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review of subjects > 18 y of age admitted to the medical ICU who underwent intubation and mechanical ventilation and were placed on an oxygen therapy protocol. The following data were collected: demographics, arterial blood gases, the length of time to change [Formula: see text] after meeting weaning parameters, and the percent change in [Formula: see text]. RESULTS: Data were collected from 30 subjects. The most common oxygen saturation parameter measured via pulse oximetry ([Formula: see text]) used to initiate weaning oxygen was 92%. The mean ± SD [Formula: see text] administered to subjects was 39.6 ± 15.3% prior to extubation. The majority of subjects exhibited adequate oxygenation prior to extubation (mean ± SD): [Formula: see text] 99.3 ± 6.7 mm Hg, [Formula: see text] 95.1 ± 26.9%. The mean ± SD length of time to the first change in [Formula: see text] from the time a subject met the weaning criteria was 9.1 ± 10.6 h (range 1-39 h; interquartile range 2-13 h). CONCLUSIONS: Subjects admitted to the medical ICU who were intubated, mechanically ventilated, and placed on the oxygen therapy protocol experienced a significant delay in oxygen weaning. Closer monitoring and adherence to the oxygen-weaning protocol should be considered to reduce the potential risk for hyperoxia.

Endotracheal cuff pressures in the PICU: Incidence of underinflation and overinflation.

BACKGROUND: While uncuffed endotracheal tubes have been traditionally used in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) population, evidence suggests cuffed endotracheal tubes (ETTs) are also safe to use within this population. Nevertheless, risks related to the use of cuffed ETTs increase when guidelines for safe and appropriate use are not followed. The primary goal of this study was to measure the cuff pressure (CP) using a cuff pressure manometer in a group of intubated pediatric subjects and determine the rate of cuff underinflation (<20 cm H20) or overinflation (>30 cm H20). The secondary aim was to determine whether CP was associated to gender, age, ETT size, and PICU length of stay prior to CP measurement. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study conducted in an urban PICU. Pediatric subjects intubated with cuffed ETTs from 1 April 2017 to 1 May 2017 were included in the study. ETT CPs were measured daily to determine degree of inflation and compared according to gender, age, ETT size, and number of days intubated prior to CP measurement. Descriptive data are expressed as means and standard deviations. A two-sample t test was used to compare groups according to age, gender, and number of days present. And significance was considered with a P < 0.05. Pearson chi test was used to evaluate correlation between CPs and size of the ETT, number of days intubated prior to CP measurement, gender, and age. RESULTS: Twenty pediatric subjects admitted during the study period were included for analysis. Eleven cuff measurements were found to be within normal limits, while 9 cuff measurements were found to be underinflated. No cases of overinflation were found. There were no significant associations between CP and size of the ETT (r = -0.08), number of days intubated prior to CP measurement (r = 0.19), gender (r = 0.09), and age (r = 0.12). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that endotracheal cuff underinflation occurs often in the PICU population. Strategies to ensure appropriate ETT CPs are maintained are essential in the intubated pediatric population. Additional studies are necessary to develop interventions and training focused on the use of a cuff pressure manometer to measure CPs in the PICU by respiratory therapists and ensure consistent measurement using inter rater evaluation processes are needed.

Ability of ICU Health-Care Professionals to Identify Patient-Ventilator Asynchrony Using Waveform Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Waveform analysis by visual inspection can be a reliable, noninvasive, and useful tool for detecting patient-ventilator asynchrony. However, it is a skill that requires a properly trained professional. METHODS: This observational study was conducted in 17 urban ICUs. Health-care professionals (HCPs) working in these ICUs were asked to recognize different types of asynchrony shown in 3 evaluation videos. The health-care professionals were categorized according to years of experience, prior training in mechanical ventilation, profession, and number of asynchronies identified correctly. RESULTS: A total of 366 HCPs were evaluated. Statistically significant differences were found when HCPs with and without prior training in mechanical ventilation (trained vs non-trained HCPs) were compared according to the number of asynchronies detected correctly (of the HCPs who identified 3 asynchronies, 63 [81%] trained vs 15 [19%] non-trained, P < .001; 2 asynchronies, 72 [65%] trained vs 39 [35%] non-trained, P = .034; 1 asynchrony, 55 [47%] trained vs 61 [53%] non-trained, P = .02; 0 asynchronies, 17 [28%] trained vs 44 [72%] non-trained, P < .001). HCPs who had prior training in mechanical ventilation also increased, nearly 4-fold, their odds of identifying ≥2 asynchronies correctly (odds ratio 3.67, 95% CI 1.93-6.96, P < .001). However, neither years of experience nor profession were associated with the ability of HCPs to identify asynchrony. CONCLUSIONS: HCPs who have specific training in mechanical ventilation increase their ability to identify asynchrony using waveform analysis. Neither experience nor profession proved to be a relevant factor to identify asynchrony correctly using waveform analysis.

Assessing Respiratory System Mechanical Function.

The main goals of assessing respiratory system mechanical function are to evaluate the lung function through a variety of methods and to detect early signs of abnormalities that could affect the patient's outcomes. In ventilated patients, it has become increasingly important to recognize whether respiratory function has improved or deteriorated, whether the ventilator settings match the patient's demand, and whether the selection of ventilator parameters follows a lung-protective strategy. Ventilator graphics, esophageal pressure, intra-abdominal pressure, and electric impedance tomography are some of the best-known monitoring tools to obtain measurements and adequately evaluate the respiratory system mechanical function.

Year in Review 2014: COPD.

Clinicians responsible for treating pulmonary disease often encounter challenges in the management of patients with COPD. This is due in part to the number of drugs now available to ameliorate COPD symptoms and the complexity of adhering to good disease management programs. Each aspect of treatment is a critical component in improving outcomes for these patients. The purpose of this article is to review some of the most significant findings regarding the treatment of COPD, with emphasis on disease management and pharmacotherapy.

Current challenges in the recognition, prevention and treatment of perioperative pulmonary atelectasis.

Innovations in surgery have significantly increased the number of procedures performed every year. While more individuals benefit from better surgical techniques and technology, a larger group of patients previously deemed ineligible for surgery now undergo high-complexity surgical procedures. Despite continuous improvements in the operating room and post-operative care, post-operative pulmonary complications (PPCs) continue to pose a serious threat to successful outcomes. PPCs are common, serious and costly. Growing awareness of the impact of PPCs has led to intensified efforts to understand the underlying causes. Current evidence demonstrates that a high proportion of PPCs are directly traceable to the pre-operative risk for and perioperative development of atelectasis. The substantial costs and losses associated with PPCs demand strategies to reduce their prevalence and impact. Effective interventions will almost certainly produce cost savings that significantly offset current economic and human resource expenditures. The purpose of this review is to describe the most common challenges encountered in the recognition, prevention and management of perioperative atelectasis. Expanding awareness and understanding of the role of atelectasis as a cause of PPCs can reduce their prevalence, impact important clinical outcomes and reduce the financial burden associated with treating these complications.

Current applications of capnography in non-intubated patients.

Current clinical guidelines recommend capnography as one of the best non-invasive methods to assess adequacy of ventilation in the non-intubated patient. Alveolar hypoventilation or respiratory depression is a serious event that occurs in a variety of clinical settings where patients receive sedatives and opioids. With the large number of procedures performed outside the operating room under the effects of sedatives and the increased use of patient-controlled analgesia, the need for capnography for monitoring has dramatically increased. Despite the succesful use of capnography to monitor ventilation in the operating room over several decades, other clinical areas have been very slow adapters of the technology and still rely heavily upon pulse oximetry to detect hypoventilation. This article reviews the most current evidence for using capnography in the non-intubated patient and summarizes the results of outcome measures reported in recent clinical trials. Capnography should be routinely used for non-intubated patients at risk for respiratory depression, in particular those receiving supplemental oxygen.

AARC clinical practice guideline: blood gas analysis and hemoximetry: 2013.

We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library database for articles published between January 1990 and December 2012. The update of this clinical practice guideline is based on 237 clinical trials, 54 reviews, and 23 meta-analyses on blood gas analysis (BGA) and hemoximetry. The following recommendations are made following the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation scoring system. BGA and hemoximetry are recommended for evaluating a patient's ventilatory, acid-base, and/or oxygenation status. BGA and hemoximetry are suggested for evaluating a patient's response to therapeutic interventions. BGA and hemoximetry are recommended for monitoring severity and progression of documented cardiopulmonary disease processes. Hemoximetry is recommended to determine the impact of dyshemoglobins on oxygenation. Capillary BGA is not recommended to determine oxygenation status. Central venous BGA and hemoximetry are suggested to determine oxygen consumption in the setting of early goal-directed therapies. For the assessment of oxygenation, a peripheral venous P(O2) is not recommended as a substitute for an arterial blood measurement (P(aO2)). It is not recommended to use venous P(CO2) and pH as a substitute for arterial blood measurement of P(aCO2) and pH. It is suggested that hemoximetry is used in the detection and evaluation of shunts during diagnostic cardiac catheterization.

Evaluation of salmeterol xinafoate plus fluticasone propionate for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

INTRODUCTION: Current clinical guidelines recommend long-acting bronchodilators as the mainstay of the pharmacotherapy of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), in conjunction with long-acting beta-agonists (LABA), are routinely considered at severe and very severe stages of COPD when patients lack adequate response to single-therapy with LABAs. Although the study methodologies evaluating the clinical effectiveness of the combination therapy using salmeterol and fluticasone (SAL/FLU) for patients with COPD have been questioned, a number of studies have suggested that using ICS, in combination with a LABA agent, may improve survival of patients with COPD. AREAS COVERED: This article attempts to review the most current evidence for using SAL/FLU in the management of COPD and summarizes the results of outcome measures reported in randomized controlled trials. EXPERT OPINION: Until new forms of drug combinations are made available, the use of dual-therapy containing a LABA and ICS remain as the most logical and appropriate approach for the treatment of patients suffering from severe and very severe COPD with repeated exacerbations.

AARC Clinical Practice Guideline. Surfactant replacement therapy: 2013.

We searched the MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library databases for English-language randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and articles investigating surfactant replacement therapy published between January 1990 and July 2012. By inspection of titles, references having no relevance to the clinical practice guideline were eliminated. The update of this clinical practice guideline is based on 253 clinical trials and systematic reviews, and 12 articles investigating surfactant replacement therapy. The following recommendations are made following the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation scoring system: 1: Administration of surfactant replacement therapy is strongly recommended in a clinical setting where properly trained personnel and equipment for intubation and resuscitation are readily available. 2: Prophylactic surfactant administration is recommended for neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in which surfactant deficiency is suspected. 3: Rescue or therapeutic administration of surfactant after the initiation of mechanical ventilation in infants with clinically confirmed RDS is strongly recommended. 4: A multiple surfactant dose strategy is recommended over a single dose strategy. 5: Natural exogenous surfactant preparations are recommended over laboratory derived synthetic suspensions at this time. 6: We suggest that aerosolized delivery of surfactant not be utilized at this time.

AARC clinical practice guideline: transcutaneous monitoring of carbon dioxide and oxygen: 2012.

An electronic literature search for articles published between January 1990 and September 2011 was conducted by using the PubMed, CINAHL, SCOPUS, and Cochrane Library databases. The update of this clinical practice guideline is the result of reviewing a total of 124 articles: 3 randomized controlled trials, 103 prospective trials, 1 retrospective study, 3 case studies, 11 review articles, 2 surveys and 1 consensus paper on transcutaneous monitoring (TCM) for P(tcO(2)) and P(tcCO(2)). The following recommendations are made following the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria: (1) Although P(tcCO(2)) has a good correlation with P(aCO(2)) and is a reliable method to evaluate plasma CO(2) levels, it is recommended that arterial blood gas values be compared to transcutaneous readings taken at the time of arterial sampling, in order to verify the transcutaneous values, and periodically as dictated by the patient's clinical condition. (2) It is suggested that P(tcCO(2)) may be used in clinical settings where monitoring the adequacy of ventilation is indicated. (3) It is suggested that P(tcO(2)) and P(tcCO(2)) may be used in determining the adequacy of tissue perfusion and monitoring of reperfusion. (4) It is suggested that TCM should be avoided in the presence of increased thickness or edema of the skin and/or subcutaneous tissue where the sensor is applied. (5) It is recommended that sites used for a TCM be changed as often as necessary and that they be alternated and observed to avoid thermal injury. Manufacturer recommendations should be followed.

Humidification during invasive and noninvasive mechanical ventilation: 2012.

We searched the MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library databases for articles published between January 1990 and December 2011. The update of this clinical practice guideline is based on 184 clinical trials and systematic reviews, and 10 articles investigating humidification during invasive and noninvasive mechanical ventilation. The following recommendations are made following the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) scoring system: 1. Humidification is recommended on every patient receiving invasive mechanical ventilation. 2. Active humidification is suggested for noninvasive mechanical ventilation, as it may improve adherence and comfort. 3. When providing active humidification to patients who are invasively ventilated, it is suggested that the device provide a humidity level between 33 mg H(2)O/L and 44 mg H(2)O/L and gas temperature between 34°C and 41°C at the circuit Y-piece, with a relative humidity of 100%. 4. When providing passive humidification to patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation, it is suggested that the HME provide a minimum of 30 mg H(2)O/L. 5. Passive humidification is not recommended for noninvasive mechanical ventilation. 6. When providing humidification to patients with low tidal volumes, such as when lung-protective ventilation strategies are used, HMEs are not recommended because they contribute additional dead space, which can increase the ventilation requirement and P(aCO(2)). 7. It is suggested that HMEs are not used as a prevention strategy for ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Aerosol delivery device selection for spontaneously breathing patients: 2012.

Using an electronic literature search for published articles indexed in PubMed between January 1990 and August 2011, the update of this clinical practice guideline is the result of reviewing 84 clinical trials, 54 reviews, 25 in vitro studies, and 7 evidence-based guidelines. The recommendations below are made following the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria: 1: It is recommended that selection of the appropriate aerosol generator and interface be made based on the patient's age, physical and cognitive ability, cost, and the availability of the prescribed drug for use with a specific device. 2: Nebulizers and pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) with valved holding chambers are suggested for use with children ≤ 4 years of age and adults who cannot coordinate the use of pMDI or dry-powder inhaler (DPI). 3: It is suggested that administration of aerosols with DPIs be restricted to patients ≥ 4 years of age who can demonstrate sufficient flow for the specific inhaler. 4: For patients who cannot correctly use a mouthpiece, aerosol masks are suggested as the interface of choice. 5: It is suggested that blow-by not be used for aerosol administration. 6: It is suggested that aerosol therapy be administered with a relaxed and nondistressed breathing pattern. 7: Unit dose medications are suggested to reduce the risk of infection. 8: It is suggested that nebulizer/drug combinations should be used as approved by the FDA. 9: It is recommended that healthcare providers know the correct use of aerosol generators; they should teach and periodically re-teach patients about how to use aerosol devices correctly. 10: It is suggested that intermittent positive-pressure breathing should not be used for aerosol therapy. 11: It is recommended that either nebulizer or pMDI can be used for aerosol delivery during noninvasive ventilation.

Incentive spirometry: 2011.

We searched the MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library databases for articles published between January 1995 and April 2011. The update of this clinical practice guideline is the result of reviewing a total of 54 clinical trials and systematic reviews on incentive spirometry. The following recommendations are made following the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) scoring system. 1: Incentive spirometry alone is not recommended for routine use in the preoperative and postoperative setting to prevent postoperative pulmonary complications. 2: It is recommended that incentive spirometry be used with deep breathing techniques, directed coughing, early mobilization, and optimal analgesia to prevent postoperative pulmonary complications. 3: It is suggested that deep breathing exercises provide the same benefit as incentive spirometry in the preoperative and postoperative setting to prevent postoperative pulmonary complications. 4: Routine use of incentive spirometry to prevent atelectasis in patients after upper-abdominal surgery is not recommended. 5: Routine use of incentive spirometry to prevent atelectasis after coronary artery bypass graft surgery is not recommended. 6: It is suggested that a volume-oriented device be selected as an incentive spirometry device.

Respiratory care year in review 2010: part 2. Invasive mechanical ventilation, noninvasive ventilation, pediatric mechanical ventilation, aerosol therapy.

The purpose of this paper is to review the recent literature related to invasive mechanical ventilation, NIV, pediatric mechanical ventilation, and aerosol therapy. Topics covered related to invasive mechanical ventilation topics include the role of PEEP in providing lung protection during mechanical ventilation, unconventional modes for severe hypoxemia, and strategies to improve patient-ventilator interactions. Topics covered related to NIV include real-life NIV use, NIV and extubation failure, and NIV and pandemics. For pediatric mechanical ventilation, the topics addressed are NIV, invasive respiratory support, and inhaled nitric oxide. Topics covered related to aerosol therapy include short-acting ß-adrenergic agents, long-acting ß-adrenergic agents, long-acting antimuscarinic agents, inhaled corticosteroid therapy, phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) inhibitors, long-acting ß-adrenergic plus inhaled corticosteroid, long-acting antimuscarinic plus inhaled corticosteroid, nebulized hypertonic saline, inhaled mannitol, and inhaled antibiotic therapy. These topics were chosen and reviewed in a manner that is most likely to have interest to the readers of Respiratory Care.

Critical-thinking ability in respiratory care students and its correlation with age, educational background, and performance on national board examinations.

BACKGROUND: Critical thinking is an important characteristic to develop in respiratory care students. METHODS: We used the short-form Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal instrument to measure critical-thinking ability in 55 senior respiratory care students in a baccalaureate respiratory care program. We calculated the Pearson correlation coefficient to assess the relationships between critical-thinking score, age, and student performance on the clinical-simulation component of the national respiratory care boards examination. We used chi-square analysis to assess the association between critical-thinking score and educational background. RESULTS: There was no significant relationship between critical-thinking score and age, or between critical-thinking score and student performance on the clinical-simulation component. There was a significant (P = .04) positive association between a strong science-course background and critical-thinking score, which might be useful in predicting a student's ability to perform in areas where critical thinking is of paramount importance, such as clinical competencies, and to guide candidate-selection for respiratory care programs.