Are home ventilators able to guarantee a minimal tidal volume?

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of the study was to evaluate the ability of home ventilators to maintain a minimal tidal volume during different conditions associated with alveolar hypoventilation.

DESIGN:

Bench evaluation coupled with an in vivo study on two healthy subjects.

SETTING:

Tertiary university hospital and research unit.

INTERVENTIONS:

Six ventilators having a "volume guarantee" module (Synchrony II, Philips Respironics; Vivo 40, Breas; Legendair, Airox; Elisee 150, Philips Respironics; Ventimotion, Weinmann; and VS III, Resmed) were tested on a lung bench in a baseline condition and in three conditions associated with alveolar hypoventilation: increase in airway resistance, decrease in lung compliance, and non-intentional leaks. An in vivo study completed the bench study for the non-intentional leak condition.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS:

The six ventilators were able to maintain a minimal tidal volume during an increase in airway resistance and a decrease in lung compliance. The maintenance of a minimal tidal volume during a non-intentional leak was more difficult and was associated with large variations in tidal volume, a default of pressure support delivery for some devices, and patient-ventilator dyssynchrony, both during the bench and the in vivo study.

CONCLUSIONS:

The six home ventilators tested in the study were able to maintain a minimal tidal volume during an increase in airway resistance and a decrease in lung compliance, but not during a non-intentional leak.

• Authors: Brigitte Fauroux, Karl Leroux, Jean-Louis Pépin, Frédéric Lofaso, Bruno Louis
• Journal: Intensive care medicine (Intensive Care Med) Vol. 36 Issue 6 Pg. 1008-14 (Jun 2010) ISSN: 1432-1238 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20217049 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Airway Resistance (physiology)
• Equipment Failure Analysis
• Home Care Services
• Humans
• Lung Compliance (physiology)
• Positive-Pressure Respiration (instrumentation)
• Respiratory Function Tests
• Sleep Apnea, Central (therapy)
• Tidal Volume (physiology)