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Performance characteristics of bilevel pressure ventilators: a lung model study
T Bunburaphong1, H Imanaka, M Nishimura
1Department of Anesthesia, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114, USA.
Chest
|April 1, 1997
Summary
Bilevel ventilators increasingly support patients with breathing issues. This study found most bilevel pressure ventilators performed as well as or better than a critical care ventilator, even under high inspiratory demands.
Area of Science:
- Respiratory Mechanics
- Mechanical Ventilation
- Pulmonary Physiology
Background:
- Bilevel pressure ventilators are increasingly used for noninvasive ventilatory support.
- Their ability to respond to inspiratory demand without expiratory loads needs extensive evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the performance of nine bilevel pressure ventilators.
- To compare their performance against the Nellcor Puritan-Bennett 7200ae critical care ventilator.
Main Methods:
- A lung model was used to test nine bilevel ventilators and one critical care ventilator.
- Ventilators were set to pressure support ventilation (PSV) and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP).
- Effects of varying PSV levels, lung compliances, and peak inspiratory flow demands were studied.
Main Results:
- Most bilevel ventilators performed comparably or significantly better than the 7200ae across all tested variables.
- Lung compliance did not significantly impact ventilator performance.
- Increased inspiratory flow demand affected delay times, pressures, and flow rates, with varied expiratory responses.
Conclusions:
- Most evaluated bilevel pressure ventilators effectively responded to high ventilatory demands.
- These ventilators generally outperformed the Nellcor Puritan-Bennett 7200ae in the studied parameters.