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Noise measurements during high-frequency oscillatory and conventional mechanical ventilation
1Medical College of Wisconsin, USA.
Objective:
To evaluate the noise levels with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation and conventional mechanical ventilation.
Design:
An observational, prospective study.
Setting:
Pediatric intensive care unit.
Subjects:
The caretakers and environment of the pediatric intensive care unit.
Interventions:
High-frequency oscillatory and conventional mechanical ventilation.
Measurements And Main Results:
Caretakers evaluated noise using a visual analog scale. Noise was measured with a decibel meter and an octave band frequency filter. There was twice as much noise perceived by the caretakers and as measured on the decibel A scale. All measures showed significantly greater noise, especially at low frequencies, with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation.
Conclusions:
High-frequency oscillatory ventilation exposes the patient to twice as much noise as does the use of conventional mechanical ventilation.