The importance of the circuit capacity in the administration of CPAP

✍ Scribed by J. Roeseler; Z. H. Bshouty; M. S. Reynaert

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1984
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 327 KB
• Volume: 10
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1432-1238
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00254321

✦ Synopsis

The effectiveness of Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) administration in improving blood oxygenation and the importance of the circuit capacity, by checking two different volumes of balloon reservoirs (a 3 l versus 23 l balloon), in reducing the work of breathing is presented. Twenty-five postoperative patients, after major gastrointestinal interventions were included in this study. Each patient being studied under three different conditions: Phase I: spontaneous breathing, Phase II: CPAP - 11 cmH2O, 3 l balloon reservoir; Phase III: CPAP - 11 cmH2O, 23 l balloon reservoir. All patients were intubated and were breathing room air. The results obtained clearly show a significant improvement in blood oxygenation due to CPAP, p less than 0.001. In addition, the work of breathing was considerably reduced utilizing a large capacity system with significant lower flow rates, p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.0001 respectively. Furthermore, rebreathing was prevented by maintaining continuous bubbling in the exit chamber and proved by having no change in PaCO2.