Ventrain: an ejector ventilator for emergency use.

BACKGROUND: A small, flow-regulated, manually operated ventilator designed for ventilation through a narrow-bore transtracheal catheter (TTC) has become available (Ventrain, Dolphys Medical BV, Eindhoven, The Netherlands). It is driven by a predetermined flow of oxygen from a high-pressure source and facilitates expiration by suction. The aim of this bench study was to test the efficacy of this new ventilator. METHODS: The driving pressure, generated insufflation, and suction pressures and also the suction capacity of the Ventrain were measured at different oxygen flows. The minute volume achieved in an artificial lung through a TTC with an inner diameter (ID) of 2 mm was determined at different settings. RESULTS: Oxygen flows of 6-15 litre min(-1) resulted in driving pressures of 0.5-2.3 bar. Insufflation pressures, measured proximal to the TTC, ranged from 23 to 138 cm H(2)O. The maximal subatmospheric pressure build-up was -217 cm H(2)O. The suction capacity increased to a maximum of 12.4 litre min(-1) at an oxygen flow of 15 litre min(-1). At this flow, the achievable minute volume through the TTC ranged from 5.9 to 7.1 litres depending on the compliance of the artificial lung. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this bench study suggest that the Ventrain is capable of achieving a normal minute volume for an average adult through a 2 mm ID TTC. Further in vivo studies are needed to determine the value of the Ventrain as a portable emergency ventilator in a 'cannot intubate, cannot ventilate' situation.

Prehospital airway management: A prospective case study.

We conducted a one-year prospective study involving a prehospital Emergency Medical Service in the Netherlands to investigate the incidence of failed or difficult prehospital endotracheal intubation. During the study period the paramedics were asked to fill in a registration questionnaire after every endotracheal intubation. Of the 26,271 patient contacts, 256 endotracheal intubations were performed by paramedics in one year. Endotracheal intubation failed in 12 patients (4.8%). In 12.0% of 249 patients, a Cormack and Lehane grade III laryngoscopy was reported and a grade IV laryngoscopy was reported in 10.4%. The average number of endotracheal intubations per paramedic in one year was 4.2 and varied from zero to a maximum of 12. The median time between arrival on the scene and a positive capnograph was 7 min.38 s in the case of a Cormack and Lehane grade I laryngoscopy and 14 min.58 s in the case of a Cormack and Lehane grade 4 laryngoscopy. The incidence of endotracheal intubations performed by Dutch paramedics in one year was low, but endotracheal intubation was successful in 95.2%, which is comparable with findings in international literature. Early capnography should be used consistently in prehospital airway management.

Ventilation through a small-bore catheter: optimizing expiratory ventilation assistance.

BACKGROUND: Emergency ventilation through a small-bore transtracheal catheter can be lifesaving in a 'cannot intubate, cannot ventilate' situation. Ejectors, capable of creating suction by the Bernoulli principle, have been proposed to facilitate expiration through small-bore catheters. In this bench study, we compared a novel, purpose-built ventilation ejector (DE 5) with a previously proposed, modified industrial ejector (SBP 07). METHODS: The generated insufflation pressures, suction pressures in static and dynamic situations, and also suction capacities and entrainment ratios of the SBP 07 and the DE 5 were determined. The DE 5 was also tested in a lung simulator with a simulated complete upper airway obstruction. Inspiratory and expiratory times through a transtracheal catheter were measured at various flow rates and achievable minute volumes were calculated. RESULTS: In a static situation, the SBP 07 showed a more negative pressure build-up compared with the DE 5. However, in a dynamic situation, the DE 5 generated a more negative pressure, resulting in a higher suction capacity. Employment of the DE 5 at a flow rate of 18 litre min(-1) allowed a minute volume through the transtracheal catheter of up to 8.27 litre min(-1) at a compliance of 100 ml cm H(2)O(-1). The efficiency of the DE 5 depended on the flow rate of the driving gas and the compliance of the lung simulator. CONCLUSION: In laboratory tests, the DE 5 is an optimized ventilation ejector suitable for applying expiratory ventilation assistance. Further research may confirm the clinical applicability as a portable emergency ventilator for use with small-bore catheters.

Achieving an adequate minute volume through a 2 mm transtracheal catheter in simulated upper airway obstruction using a modified industrial ejector.

BACKGROUND: Needle cricothyrotomy and subsequent transtracheal jet ventilation (TTJV) is one of the last options to restore oxygenation while managing an airway emergency. However, in cases of complete upper airway obstruction, conventional TTJV is ineffective and dangerous. We transformed a small, industrial ejector into a simple, manual ventilator providing expiratory ventilation assistance (EVA). METHODS: An ejector pump was modified to allow both insufflation of oxygen and jet-assisted expiration through an attached 75 mm long transtracheal catheter (TTC) with an inner diameter (ID) of 2 mm by alternately occluding and releasing the gas outlet of the ejector pump. In a lung simulator, the modified ejector pump was tested at different compliances and resistances. Inspiration and expiration times were measured and achievable minute volumes (MVs) were calculated to determine the effect of EVA. RESULTS: The modified ejector pump shortened the expiration time and an MV up to 6.6 litre min(-1) could be achieved through a 2 mm ID TTC in a simulated obstructed airway. CONCLUSIONS: The principle of ejector-based EVA seems promising and deserves further evaluation.

A bench study of ventilation via two self-assembled jet devices and the Oxygen Flow Modulator in simulated upper airway obstruction.

In managing an obstructed upper airway, an emergency transtracheal ventilation device needs to function as a bidirectional airway, allowing both insufflation of oxygen and egress of gas. The aim of the present study was to determine the capability of two self-assembled, three-way stopcock based jet devices and the Oxygen Flow Modulator to function as a bidirectional airway in conjunction with a small lumen catheter. For each device the effective pressures at the catheter's tip during the expiratory phase and the achievable minute volumes were determined in a laboratory set-up. Using the three-way stopcock based jet devices, changing the connection position of the transtracheal catheter from the in-line port to the side port of the three-way stopcock resulted in a decrease of expiratory pressure at the catheter's tip from a dangerous mean (SD) of 71.1 (0.08) cmH(2)O to -14.71 (0.05) cmH(2)O. Yet this negative expiratory pressure did not facilitate the egress of gas. All devices tested impeded the expiratory outflow and hence decreased the achievable minute volume. This decrease in minute volume was smallest with the Oxygen Flow Modulator.