[Monitoring tidal volumes when using the Ventrain® emergency ventilator].

Area of Science:

• Medical Devices
• Respiratory Care
• Clinical Engineering

Background:

• The Ventrain® device provides emergency ventilation but lacks tidal volume monitoring, risking patient trauma.
• Accurate monitoring of inspiratory and expiratory tidal volumes is crucial for safe ventilation, especially in cases of airway obstruction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and precision of the Florian respiratory function monitor (RFM) for measuring tidal volumes delivered by the Ventrain® emergency ventilation device.
• To assess the RFM's ability to monitor both inspiratory and expiratory tidal volumes in an in-vitro setting.

Main Methods:

• An in-vitro study using the ASL 5000 test lung and a 2mm transtracheal catheter.
• The Florian RFM with its neonatal flow sensor was used to measure tidal volumes at various driving flows.
• Calibration and bias correction were performed, followed by comparison with ASL 5000 measurements using Bland Altman analysis.

Main Results:

• The Florian RFM, after software adaptation, showed a mean deviation of 2.59% for inspiratory and 1.66% for expiratory tidal volumes compared to the ASL 5000.
• Bias and precision were within acceptable limits, with bias of 2.05ml (23.20) for inspiration and 4.62ml (10.40) for expiration.

Conclusions:

• The Florian RFM, utilizing hot-wire anemometer technology, can effectively monitor tidal volumes delivered by the Ventrain®.
• Software adaptation allows the RFM to measure precise inspiratory and expiratory tidal volumes, aiding in adequate patient ventilation and reducing trauma risk.