No description available.

ABSTRACT Patients with respiratory failure secondary to acute asthma exacerbation (AAE) frequently present at emergency units. Some patients may develop respiratory muscle fatigue. Current guidelines for the treatment of an AAE center on pharmacological treatment and invasive mechanical ventilation. Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) has an established role in COPD exacerbations. The role it can play in an AAE remains unanswered although it is frequently used in the clinical setting. Aims: The present study proposed to investigate if the early use of NPPV in the forms of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bilevel positive pressure ventilation (BPPV) together with standard medical therapy in AAE can decrease time of response to therapy compared to standard medical therapy alone. We further tested the effect of BPPV against CPAP. Methods: Asthmatic patients who presented with a severe AAE (PEFR % predicted < 60 %) at the emergency unit were randomized to either standard medical therapy (ST), ST and CPAP or ST and BPPV. Thirty patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria for the study. Groups presented similar baseline characteristics. The mean age for the group was 42.1 ± 12.6 years. Mean baseline PEFR % predicted was 35.2 ± 10.7 % (ST), 30.5 ± 11.7 % (ST + CPAP) and 33.5 ±13.8 % (ST + BPPV). Results: Hourly improvement (Δ) in respiratory rate and sensation of breathlessness was significantly better in the BPPV intervention group. Improvement (Δ) from baseline to end of treatment in respiratory rate and sensation of breathlessness was significant for both CPAP and BPPV (p = 0.0463; p = 0.0132 respectively) compared to ST alone. Lung function was significantly improved in the CPAP intervention group hourly and from baseline to end of treatment (p = 0.0403 for PEFR and p = 0.0293 for PEFR % predicted) compared to ST + BPPV and ST alone. The mean shift (Δ) in PEFR from baseline to 3 hours of treatment was 67.4, 123.5 and 86.8 L/min (p = 0.0445) for ST, ST + CPAP and ST + BPPV respectively. This corresponded to a 38.1, 80.8 and 51.7 % improvement in lung function respectively. Discussion: The effect of BPPV on the reduction of respiratory rate and sensation of breathlessness could be related to the inspiratory assistance provided by BPPV. The significant improvement in lung function in the CPAP group could be related to its intrinsic effect on the airway smooth muscle and / or on the airway smooth muscle load. Conclusion: The present results suggest that adding NPPV to standard treatment for an AAE not only improves clinical signs faster but also improves lung function faster. CPAP seems to have an intrinsic effect on the airway smooth muscle so rendering it more effective in ameliorating lung function.

Introduction: Little is known about the impact of spousal involvement on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) adherence. The aim of this study was to determine whether spouse involvement affects adherence with CPAP therapy, and how this association varies with gender. Methods: 194 subjects recruited from Apnea Positive Pressure Long Term Efficacy Study (APPLES) completed the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS). The majority of participants were Caucasian (83%), and males (73%), with mean age of 56 years, mean BMI of 31 kg/m2. & 62% had severe OSA. The DAS is a validated 32-item self-report instrument measuring dyadic consensus, satisfaction, cohesion, and affectional expression. A high score in the DAS is indicative of a person’s adjustment to the marriage. Additionally, questions related to spouse involvement with general health and CPAP use were asked. CPAP use was downloaded from the device and self-report, and compliance was defined as usage > 4 h per night. Results: There were no significant differences in overall marital quality between the compliant and noncompliant subjects. However, level of spousal involvement was associated with increased CPAP adherence at 6 months (p=0.01). After stratifying for gender these results were significant only among males (p=0.03). Three years after completing APPLES, level of spousal involvement was not associated with CPAP compliance even after gender stratification. Conclusion: Spousal involvement is important in determining CPAP compliance in males in the 1st 6 months after initiation of therapy but is not predictive of longer-term adherence. Involvement of the spouse should be considered an integral part of CPAP initiation procedures. Support: HL068060

Cardiac surgery incisional pain can decrease inspiratory effort, alter normal respiratory mechanics, and increase the potential for post-operative pulmonary complications. Post-surgical atelectasis is the most frequent complication after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), ranging from 54% to 92%. All types of therapy such as an incentive spirometry (IS), deep breathing exercises (DBE) or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) have a valuable role to play in the prevention or the treatment of post-surgical atelectasis. However, the type of therapy that should be used is not completely clear yet. The present research aims to evaluate the benefit of early use of CPAP via mask therapy to treat or prevent post-surgical atelectasis after CABG, particularly in smokers and elderly patients, as compared to regular (IS) therapy. Also, it aims to evaluate the patients' and medical staff's experience about the use of the new method of CPAP via mask therapy. The present research was conducted at King Fahd Armed Forces Hospital in Saudi Arabia between March 2010 and December 2011. It used a mixed methods approach. The first two studies were intervention quantitative studies, which investigated the benefit of CPAP via mask therapy. The others were qualitative studies that evaluated the experience of patients and medical staff regarding CPAP therapy use.A total of 180 patients (male and female) (36 in each group) participated in the two quantitative studies. Ninety two participants (male and female) participated in the qualitative studies. The first quantitative study results showed an improvement in CPAP via mask therapy for half hours every two hours group measurements as compared to IS therapy groups. IC was increased significantly in the "CPAP every two hours group" as compared to control group (IS) (baseline mean for IS group 1.34L and "CPAP every two hours group" 1.42L, post- therapy mean 1.59L and 1.88L respectively, p= 0.037). In addition, when chest physiotherapy was added to the two regimens, the improvement of CPAP therapy measurements became more than IS therapy. Moreover, the patient’s acceptance rate for CPAP therapy every two hours was 93% and the medical staff acceptance rate was 86%. CPAP via mask therapy for half hour every two hours had better outcomes in treating or preventing post-surgical atelectasis after CABG, particularly in smokers and elderly patients. Adding chest physiotherapy led to even better outcomes. The use of the new method of CPAP therapy had high acceptance rate by the participants and medical staff.

No description available.

Bakgrund: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) är en non-invasiv behandling som bland annat används vid respiratorisk svikt. CPAP-behandling utförs inte bara på intensivvårdskliniker, vilket ställer högre utbildningskrav på sjuksköterskor verksamma inom slutenvården. Otillräcklig kunskap bland personalen leder till minskad möjlighet att tillgodose patienternas behov. I dagens sjukvård där allt fler sjuka patienter vårdas utanför intensivvårdskliniker krävs det därför regelbunden utbildning för sjuksköterskor för att kunna upprätthålla en säker vård. Syfte: Att beskriva sjuksköterskors erfarenhet av att utföra CPAP-behandling på en medicinsk slutenvårdsavdelning. Design: Kvalitativ studie med induktiv ansats Metod: Femton sjuksköterskor intervjuades på två sjukhus i Mellansverige. Den transkriberade datan analyserades med hjälp av en konventionell innehållsanalys. Fynd: Huvudfyndet i denna studie visar att sjuksköterskans erfarenhet av CPAPbehandling kännetecknas av blandade känslor. Det framkommer att sjuksköterskans utförande av CPAP-behandling påverkas av såväl frustration och osäkerhet som trygghet och säkerhet vilket är länkat till erfarenheten. Trots dessa blandade känslor leder sjuksköterskan teamet med mål att skapa en säker vård för patienten. Konklusion: Det behövs en kontinuerlig utbildning kring CPAP-behandling och ett regelbundet användande för att sjuksköterskor ska känna sig säkra och främja patientsäkerheten. / Background: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is a non-invasive treatment which is useful to treat respiratory failure. CPAP-treatment is not only performed at the intensive care units, and that leads to higher demands of education for nurses in clinical wards. Insufficient knowledge among the health care staff leads to reduced ability to satisfy the patient´s needs. In today’s health care with more complex patients in general wards is regular education important for nurses to maintain quality and safety. Aim: To describe nurses´ experience of performing CPAP-treatment in medical hospital care. Design: A qualitative study, inductive. Method: Fifteen nurses were interviewed in two hospitals in Sweden. The transcribed data where analysed with qualitative content analysis. Findings: The main finding where that nurses had both positive- and negative experience of CPAP-treatment. The study shows that nurses experience feelings such as frustration and insecurity as well as safety around CPAP-treatment. Despite the mixed feelings the nurse could be a team leader with focus on quality and safety. Conclusion: A regular education and regular use of CPAP-treatment is important so the nurses feels secure and to maintain the patient safety.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a chronic illness with increasing prevalence. In addition to associated cardiovascular comorbidities, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome has been linked to poor quality of life, occupational accidents, and motor vehicle crashes secondary to excessive daytime sleepiness. Although continuous positive airway pressure is the gold standard for sleep apnea treatment, its effects on quality of life are not well defined. In the current study we investigated the effects of treatment on quality of life using the data from the Apnea Positive Pressure Long-term Efficacy Study (APPLES), a randomized controlled trial of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) versus sham CPAP. The Calgary Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Index (SAQLI) was used to assess quality of life. Overall we found no significant improvement in quality of life among sleep apnea patients after CPAP treatment. However, after stratifying by OSA severity, it was found that long-term improvement in quality of life might occur with the use of CPAP in people with severe and possibly moderate sleep apnea, and no demonstrable improvement in quality of life was noted among participants with mild obstructive sleep apnea.

No description available.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2005. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

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.