A Simplified Adult Expiratory Support Device: First Clinical Cases in a Low-Resource Setting.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Devices
• Global Health

Background:

• Mechanical ventilators and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices are unaffordable and unavailable in low- and middle-income countries.
• Approximately 10% of critically ill patients in Ghana's emergency departments require ventilator support.
• Limited access to respiratory support exacerbates mortality in resource-limited settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design, build, and test a low-cost expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) device.
• To provide adult respiratory support in resource-limited environments.
• To enable respiratory support with or without supplemental oxygen, independent of electricity.

Main Methods:

• Development of a simple, 3D-printable EPAP device.
• Laboratory testing to evaluate EPAP delivery capabilities.
• Clinical application in two cases for weaning patients from mechanical ventilation.

Main Results:

• Laboratory tests confirmed the device's ability to deliver effective EPAP levels.
• The EPAP device successfully provided critical respiratory support to two patients during mechanical ventilation weaning.
• The device demonstrated feasibility in a low-resource clinical setting.

Conclusions:

• A low-cost, 3D-printable EPAP device can significantly benefit patients with respiratory distress in low-resource settings.
• The device offers a viable solution for respiratory support where advanced equipment is unavailable.
• Further clinical validation is recommended for widespread adoption in resource-limited areas.