Modification of a domiciliary ventilator to increase FiO2: an off-label modification which may be of value in COVID-19. Issue 1 (18th October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mebrate, Yoseph; Phillips, Steven; Field, Debbie; Mumuni, Ivy; Josse, Paul; Alexander, David; Das-Gupta, Rishi; Trimlett, Richard; Polkey, Michael I
• Is Part Of: Thorax. Volume 76:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 83
• Page End: 85
• Publication Date: 2020-10-18
• Subjects: non invasive ventilation; Chest -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Thorax; Chest -- Diseases; Periodicals; Periodicals; 617.54
• DOI: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2020-215487
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0040-6376

Abstract

Abstract : Although nasal continuous positive airway pressure or non-invasive ventilation is used to manage some patients with acute lung injury due to COVID-19, such patients also demonstrate increased minute ventilation which makes it hard, if the device is used in line with the manufacturer's instructions, to achieve adequate oxygen delivery. In addition, if a hospital contains many such patients, then it is possible that the oxygen requirements will exceed infrastructure capacity. Here we describe a simple modification of two exemplar ventilators normally used for domiciliary ventilation, which substantially increased the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2 ) delivered.