Introduction: Limited facilities exist at rural hospitals for the management of newborn infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Furthermore, the secondary and tertiary hospitals are under severe strain to accept all the referrals from rural hospitals. Many of these infants require intubation and ventilation with a resuscitation bag which must be sustained for hours until the transport team arrives. Not only is lung damage inflicted by the prolonged ventilation, but transferring the infant by helicopter and ambulance is expensive. CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), a non-invasive form of ventilatory support, has been used successfully at regional (Level 2) and tertiary (Level 3) neonatal units, to manage infants with RDS. It is cost-effective for infants with mild to moderate grades of RDS to be managed at the rural hospital instead of being transferred to the regional secondary or tertiary hospital. CPAP was introduced to Ceres Hospital, a rural Level 1 hospital, in February 2008 for the management of infants with RDS. Aim: To determine the impact of CPAP on the management of infants with RDS in a rural level 1 hospital and whether it can reduce the number of referrals to regional hospitals. Study setting: Nursery at Ceres District Hospital, Cape Winelands District, Western Cape. Study design: Prospective cohort analytical study with an historic control group (HCG). Patients and Methods: The study group (SG) comprised all neonates with respiratory distress born between 27/02/2008 and 26/02/2010. The infants were initially resuscitated with a Neopuff® machine in labour-ward and CPAP was commenced for those with RDS. The survival and referral rates of the SG were compared to an historic control group (HCG) of infants born between 1/2/2006 to 31/01/2008 at Ceres Hospital. Results: During the 2 years of the study, 51 neonates received CPAP (34 <1800g, 17>1800g). Twenty (83%) of the SG infants between 1000g and 1800g and 23 (68%) of the infants between 500g and 1800g survived. Those <1800g that failed CPAP, had either a severe grade of RDS which required intubation and ventilation or were <1000g. Seventeen (33%) of the infants that received CPAP, were in the >1800g group. Thirteen (76%) of these infants were successfully treated with CPAP only. The four infants that failed CPAP suffered from congenital abnormalities and would not have benefited from CPAP. There was no statistically significant difference in the survival between the SG and HCG (80%) (p=0.5490) but the number of referrals decreased significantly from 21% in the HCG to 7% in the SG (p=0.0003). No complications related to CPAP treatment, such as pneumothorax, were noted. The nursing and medical staff quickly became proficient and confident in applying CPAP and were committed to the project. Conclusion: CPAP can be safely and successfully practised in infants with mild to moderate RDS in a rural Level 1 hospital. The survival rate stayed the same as the HCG, even though a higher risk infants were treated in the SG. The transfers were significantly reduced from 21% to 7%. This resulted in significant cost savings for the hospital.

Objetivo: Verificar o efeito em longo prazo do tratamento da apneia do sono com CPAP na circunferência da cintura em pacientes com apneia do sono. Métodos: Foram incluídos indivíduos com apneia do sono de ambos os sexos, idade superior a 18 anos, com indicação de uso de CPAP que aderiram ou não ao tratamento. Todos foram submetidos à polissonografia de noite inteira pelo método convencional em laboratório do sono afiliado a universidade entre 01/01/2007 e 01/06/2012. O grupo com CPAP realizou pelo menos três polissonografias. O grupo controle foi composto por pacientes que repetiram a polissonografia após pelo menos seis meses, que relataram não receber qualquer tipo de tratamento e que mantinham o IAH na segunda polissonografia. Resultados: No grupo CPAP foram incluídos 77 pacientes e no grupo controle, 43 pacientes. O tempo de acompanhamento foi respectivamente de 2,5 e 2,3 anos. Foi observada uma redução significativa na circunferência abdominal no grupo CPAP, comparando com controles através do teste t de Student (P= 0,024). O modelo logístico binário para prever redução da circunferência abdominal após o período de acompanhamento foi significativo (P <0,001), utilizando-se como regressores: uso do CPAP, sexo, idade> 45 anos, IMC≥ 30 kg/m2 e IAH≥ 30. O R2 de Nagelkerke foi de 0,36, indicando que essas variáveis explicam 36% da variação da redução da circunferência abdominal. Conclusão: O uso de CPAP se associa à redução da circunferência abdominal, independentemente de sexo, idade e índice de apneia-hipopneia basais, bem como da diferença de índice de massa corporal. Este achado justifica pesquisas futura sobre o papel da apneia do sono no volume de gordura visceral. / Objective: Verify the long term effect of sleep apnea treatment with CPAP on waist circumference in patients with sleep apnea. Methods: Individuals of both genders, older than 18 years that adhered to CPAP use or not were included. All underwent a full-night polysomnography by the conventional method in a university-affiliated sleep laboratory between 01/01/2007 to 01/06/2012. The group using CPAP underwent at least three polysomnographies. The control group consisted of patients with moderate to severe OSA who repeated a polysomnography after at least six months. Only individuals who reported not receiving any treatment and in which the AHI continued in the same OSA categories at the second polysomnography were included. Results: The CPAP group included 77 and the control group, 43 patients. Follow up time was, respectively, 2.5 and 2.3 years. A significant reduction in waist circumference was observed in the CPAP group, comparing with controls by Student’s t test (P= 0.024). The binary logistic model to predict decreased waist circumference after follow up period was significant (P<0.001), using as regressors: CPAP use, gender, age>45 years, BMI≥30 Kg/m2, and AHI≥30. The Nagelkerke R Square was 0.36, indicating that these variable explain 36% of the variance of waist circumference reduction. Conclusion: Long-term CPAP therapy is associated with a reduction in waist circumference, regardless of sex, age and basal apnea-hypopnea as well as the difference in body mass index.

Objetivo: Verificar o efeito em longo prazo do tratamento da apneia do sono com CPAP na circunferência da cintura em pacientes com apneia do sono. Métodos: Foram incluídos indivíduos com apneia do sono de ambos os sexos, idade superior a 18 anos, com indicação de uso de CPAP que aderiram ou não ao tratamento. Todos foram submetidos à polissonografia de noite inteira pelo método convencional em laboratório do sono afiliado a universidade entre 01/01/2007 e 01/06/2012. O grupo com CPAP realizou pelo menos três polissonografias. O grupo controle foi composto por pacientes que repetiram a polissonografia após pelo menos seis meses, que relataram não receber qualquer tipo de tratamento e que mantinham o IAH na segunda polissonografia. Resultados: No grupo CPAP foram incluídos 77 pacientes e no grupo controle, 43 pacientes. O tempo de acompanhamento foi respectivamente de 2,5 e 2,3 anos. Foi observada uma redução significativa na circunferência abdominal no grupo CPAP, comparando com controles através do teste t de Student (P= 0,024). O modelo logístico binário para prever redução da circunferência abdominal após o período de acompanhamento foi significativo (P <0,001), utilizando-se como regressores: uso do CPAP, sexo, idade> 45 anos, IMC≥ 30 kg/m2 e IAH≥ 30. O R2 de Nagelkerke foi de 0,36, indicando que essas variáveis explicam 36% da variação da redução da circunferência abdominal. Conclusão: O uso de CPAP se associa à redução da circunferência abdominal, independentemente de sexo, idade e índice de apneia-hipopneia basais, bem como da diferença de índice de massa corporal. Este achado justifica pesquisas futura sobre o papel da apneia do sono no volume de gordura visceral. / Objective: Verify the long term effect of sleep apnea treatment with CPAP on waist circumference in patients with sleep apnea. Methods: Individuals of both genders, older than 18 years that adhered to CPAP use or not were included. All underwent a full-night polysomnography by the conventional method in a university-affiliated sleep laboratory between 01/01/2007 to 01/06/2012. The group using CPAP underwent at least three polysomnographies. The control group consisted of patients with moderate to severe OSA who repeated a polysomnography after at least six months. Only individuals who reported not receiving any treatment and in which the AHI continued in the same OSA categories at the second polysomnography were included. Results: The CPAP group included 77 and the control group, 43 patients. Follow up time was, respectively, 2.5 and 2.3 years. A significant reduction in waist circumference was observed in the CPAP group, comparing with controls by Student’s t test (P= 0.024). The binary logistic model to predict decreased waist circumference after follow up period was significant (P<0.001), using as regressors: CPAP use, gender, age>45 years, BMI≥30 Kg/m2, and AHI≥30. The Nagelkerke R Square was 0.36, indicating that these variable explain 36% of the variance of waist circumference reduction. Conclusion: Long-term CPAP therapy is associated with a reduction in waist circumference, regardless of sex, age and basal apnea-hypopnea as well as the difference in body mass index.

Objetivo: Verificar o efeito em longo prazo do tratamento da apneia do sono com CPAP na circunferência da cintura em pacientes com apneia do sono. Métodos: Foram incluídos indivíduos com apneia do sono de ambos os sexos, idade superior a 18 anos, com indicação de uso de CPAP que aderiram ou não ao tratamento. Todos foram submetidos à polissonografia de noite inteira pelo método convencional em laboratório do sono afiliado a universidade entre 01/01/2007 e 01/06/2012. O grupo com CPAP realizou pelo menos três polissonografias. O grupo controle foi composto por pacientes que repetiram a polissonografia após pelo menos seis meses, que relataram não receber qualquer tipo de tratamento e que mantinham o IAH na segunda polissonografia. Resultados: No grupo CPAP foram incluídos 77 pacientes e no grupo controle, 43 pacientes. O tempo de acompanhamento foi respectivamente de 2,5 e 2,3 anos. Foi observada uma redução significativa na circunferência abdominal no grupo CPAP, comparando com controles através do teste t de Student (P= 0,024). O modelo logístico binário para prever redução da circunferência abdominal após o período de acompanhamento foi significativo (P <0,001), utilizando-se como regressores: uso do CPAP, sexo, idade> 45 anos, IMC≥ 30 kg/m2 e IAH≥ 30. O R2 de Nagelkerke foi de 0,36, indicando que essas variáveis explicam 36% da variação da redução da circunferência abdominal. Conclusão: O uso de CPAP se associa à redução da circunferência abdominal, independentemente de sexo, idade e índice de apneia-hipopneia basais, bem como da diferença de índice de massa corporal. Este achado justifica pesquisas futura sobre o papel da apneia do sono no volume de gordura visceral. / Objective: Verify the long term effect of sleep apnea treatment with CPAP on waist circumference in patients with sleep apnea. Methods: Individuals of both genders, older than 18 years that adhered to CPAP use or not were included. All underwent a full-night polysomnography by the conventional method in a university-affiliated sleep laboratory between 01/01/2007 to 01/06/2012. The group using CPAP underwent at least three polysomnographies. The control group consisted of patients with moderate to severe OSA who repeated a polysomnography after at least six months. Only individuals who reported not receiving any treatment and in which the AHI continued in the same OSA categories at the second polysomnography were included. Results: The CPAP group included 77 and the control group, 43 patients. Follow up time was, respectively, 2.5 and 2.3 years. A significant reduction in waist circumference was observed in the CPAP group, comparing with controls by Student’s t test (P= 0.024). The binary logistic model to predict decreased waist circumference after follow up period was significant (P<0.001), using as regressors: CPAP use, gender, age>45 years, BMI≥30 Kg/m2, and AHI≥30. The Nagelkerke R Square was 0.36, indicating that these variable explain 36% of the variance of waist circumference reduction. Conclusion: Long-term CPAP therapy is associated with a reduction in waist circumference, regardless of sex, age and basal apnea-hypopnea as well as the difference in body mass index.

Commercial vehicle drivers are required to maintain Department Of Transportation medical certification which entails a Commercial Driver Medical Examination (CDME) and optimally leads to a two-year certification. The examination must be performed by a licensed "medical examiner" administered by a variety of health care providers including physicians, advanced registered nurse practitioners, physician assistants and doctors of chiropractic. Unfavorable findings in the examination can yield either a shortened medical certification period or denial of certification. Sleep disorders including sleep apnea are assessed by a single question located in the health history portion of the CDME form which is filled-out by the examinee. A positive response to this single item often prompts the medical examiner to further supplement this question using a subjective questionnaire, such as the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. This particular questionnaire generates a total score based on the examinee's subjective responses to eight items regarding the propensity to doze-off or fall asleep in different scenarios, thus indicating daytime sleepiness. Commercial drivers depend on the medical certification for their livelihood and it is hypothesized that subjective responses regarding daytime sleepiness are distorted in an effort to attain optimal DOT certification.

Background/objectives: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have an increased the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF). However, it remains unclear if patients with OSA carry a higher risk of recurrent AF after successful catheter ablation. This meta-analysis was conducted (1) to evaluate the association between OSA and recurrent AF after catheter ablation, and (2) to assess the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on the risk of recurrent AF in patients with OSA. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane databases from inception through July 2017 to identify studies that evaluated the risk of recurrent AF after successful catheter ablation in patients with OSA were included. Effect estimates from the individual study were extracted and combined using random-effect, generic inverse variance method of DerSimonian and Laird. Results: Seven observational studies with a total of 4572 patients AF after successful catheter ablation were enrolled. Compared to patients without OSA, the pooled OR of recurrent AF in patients with OSA was 1.70 (95% CI, 1.40-2.06, I2 = 0). Among OSA patients with AF after successful catheter ablation, the use of CPAP was significantly associated with decreased risk of recurrent AF with pooled OR of 0.28 (0.19-0.40, I2= 0). Egger's regression asymmetry test was performed and showed no publication bias for the associations of OSA and CPAP with recurrent AF. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis suggested a significant association between OSA and recurrent AF after catheter ablation. The use of CPAP in patients with OSA is associated with reduced risk of recurrent AF after catheter ablation.

HUR PATIENTER MED SÖMNAPNÉSYNDROM UPPLEVER CPAP-BEHANDLING I SITT DAGLIGA LIVEN EMPIRISK INTERVJUSTUDIECAMILLA SEGERLINDPATRIK TUASONSegerlind, C och Tuason, P. Hur patienter med sömnapnésyndrom upplever CPAP-behandling i sitt dagliga liv. En empirisk studie intervjustudie. Examensarbete i omvårdnad 15 högskolepoäng. Malmö högskola: Hälsa och Samhälle, utbildningsområde omvårdnad, 2009.Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur patienter med sömnapnésyndrom upplever CPAP-behandling och hur denna påverkar deras dagliga liv. Genom 7 kvalitativa intervjuer med patienter som har sömnapnésyndrom och som behandlas med CPAP-maskin, utfördes denna empiriska intervjustudie. Intervjuerna gjordes i patienternas hem eller via telefon. Den insamlade datan analyserades med hjälp av kvalitativ innehållsanalys med induktiv ansats och följande underteman framkom i analysen; compliance, CPAP-maskin och det dagliga livet som tillsammans skapade ett huvudtema: Att anpassa sig till CPAP och att göra framsteg i det dagliga livet. Patienternas upplevelser av CPAP var att den var omöjlig att leva utan och upplevelsen av att dagligt liv har förändrats. Det är av största vikt att patienten följer rekommendationer av behandlingen för att full effekt ska uppnås. Det är viktigt att informera om sömnapnésyndrom, om hur detta kan förebyggas, om risken för att drabbas, och om hur betydelsefull compliance är vid CPAP-behandlingNyckelord: CPAP, dagligt liv, empirisk studie, intervjuer, omvårdnad, patienter, sömnapnésyndrom, upplevelser / HOW SLEEP APNEA SYNDROME PATIENTS EXPERIENCE CPAP-TREATMENT IN THEIR DAILY LIFEAN EMPIRICAL INTERVIEW STUDYCAMILLA SEGERLINDPATRIK TUASONSegerlind, C and Tuason, P. How sleep apnea syndrome patients experience CPAP-treatment in their daily life. An empirical study on sleep apnea syndrome patients' experience of CPAP-treatment and its impact on daily life. Degree project in Nursing 15 credit points. Malmoe University: Health and Society, department of Nursing, 2009. The purpose of the study was to examine how patients with sleep apnea syndrome experience CPAP therapy and how it affects their daily lives. This empirical study was conducted by 7 qualitative interviews with patients who have sleep apnea syndrome and treated with CPAP machine. The interviews were made in the patients' homes or by telephone. The collected data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis with the inductive approach and the following subcategories was revealed; compliance, CPAP machine and the daily life. These categories created a major theme: To adjused to CPAP, and to make progress in daily life. Patients' experience of CPAP was that it was impossible to live without and that the daily life has changed. It is essential that the patient follow the recommendations of the treatment to achieve full effect. It is important to inform about sleep apnea syndrome, how this can be prevented, on the risk of being affected and the importance of compliance to the CPAP treatment.Keywords: CPAP, daily life, empirical study, experiences, interviews, nursing, patients, sleep apnea syndrome.

The use of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) in acute care settings has drastically increased within the past 20 years. Research has indicated that NPPV is equally as effective as traditional mechanical ventilation(MV) in treating acute exacerbations of chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD) and cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Furthermore, the risk of complication from NPPV is much lower than MV, in terms of ventilator-associated pneumonia and sepsis. It is imperative for the nurse to understand the various indications, interfaces, and potential complications associated with NPPV use. In addition to treating acute exacerbations of COPD and cardiogenic pulmonary edema, NPPV has been used for prevention of reintubation, palliative care, and status asthmaticus. Furthermore, NPPV could be delivered through various interfaces, such as nasal, facial, and helmet. Each of these interfaces could eventually cause complications for the patient, such as skin ulceration and sepsis. However, there is limited amount of research available discussing the role of the nurse in caring for the patient with NPPV. There are no standardized guidelines established to assist the nurse in this care, in terms of interface selection, prevention of complications, and staffing patterns. Several recommendations are presented at the end of this thesis to guide future nursing research, education, and clinical practice, such as exploring the role of oral care and education for NPPV patients.

No description available.

Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is reportedly superior to mechanical ventilation in the neonatal population by reducing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). The neonate is vulnerable to injury secondary to immature physiological systems and skin structures and the current CPAP devices place constant pressure on nares, nasal septum and forehead, increasing injury risk. Through the framework of comparative effectiveness research an examination of nasal interfaces currently used during neonatal CPAP was conducted in an effort to provide scientifically supported recommendations and improve clinical outcomes. The primary aim of this study was to determine differences in the frequency, severity and specific types of nasal injuries described when comparing different nasal CPAP interfaces (prongs/mask/rotation) used in the treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). A secondary aim of the study was to identify risk factors that may be associated with skin breakdown during nasal CPAP administration. A three group prospective randomized experimental design was used to study78 neonates <1500 grams receiving nasal CPAP using the same delivery system. The subjects were randomized into three groups: 1) continuous nasal prong group, 2) continuous nasal mask group, or 3) alternating mask/prongs group. Serial data collection included: demographic, biophysical measures and the Neonatal Skin Condition Scale (NSCS). This study demonstrated a significant difference in the frequency and severity of skin injury when utilizing a method of rotating mask and prong nasal interfaces during neonatal CPAP therapy; a useful clinical recommendation. Specific nursing care implications related to study findings include; choosing a device for best fit for infant (face shape and infant size); positioning of the CPAP device; developmental position of the infant; and focused skin assessment with rapid intervention. Standardized care including skin barriers, clinical expertise of nursing and respiratory therapy, and skin care management are strategies that warrant additional research.