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The only reason I can think of is to reduce exposure to exhaled particles by directing them back to the source.

Make sure you have good equipment, get the patient to do what you need to do and concentrate. Never go through clothes (obvious, but have seen it far too many times). Also, make sure you know what parts you are listening to and where they are located. If you look at a picture of the left...

Make sure you have good equipment, get the patient to do what you need to do and concentrate. Never go through clothes (obvious, but have seen it far too many times). Also, make sure you know what parts you are listening to and where they are located. If you look at a picture of the left lung...

Interesting. But does this policy apply to all physicians as well? Can anyone shed light on whether the physicians salaried employees or self employed contractors with priviledges?

I believe the concern there is that the patient could still attempt to vomit through gastric contractions but blocking the esophagus could lead to a rupture of the esophagus itself due to the high pressures being generated. So yes, you can prevent gastric contents from entering the airway but...

I got mine down to 78%. The secret is to hyperventilate to blow off as much CO2 as possible (drive to breathe and all that). Don't bear down as the vasovagal stimulation could cause a drop in BP. As you approach the cusp of the desaturation curve, the SpO2 will start to drop faster and...

Apparently the show is based on a world where there have never been movies about zombies (that's why they don't call them zombies, but "walkers" instead). My understanding is that they can't walk or run faster than what was experienced in the original "Night of the Living Dead" movie.

For a quick example, try it out on yourself. Put on the oximeter and hold your breath. See how long it takes for the sat's to drop and compare it to how fast it takes to return (if you're still awake). While this isn't the exact same as the CO2 will build as well, it does give an appreciation...

I am basing this on personal experience on several ICU patients (it was a few years ago so the manufacturer may have improved the sensor and software). On several occasions I experienced a vacillating waveform that increased and decreased with remarkable consistency (very high highs and very...

Another factor could be related to the hemoglobin level. When Hb is low, the number could be all over the map. Your question is actually dealt with by the manufacturers when they create the algorithm that goes into their devices. A lot of that stuff is explained when they do the sales...

Normal spontaneous breathing generates intrapulmonary pressures in a very small range (zero plus or minus 5 cmH2O). Bagging with or without an ETT can generate pressures anywhere from 20-60+ cmH2O, which can cause barotrauma. Trying to force air in a system with increasing intrathoracic...

I have a question for those thinking about intubating (and don't have an iStat to check the ABG's). Once you've tubed them, now what? What are your protocols for bagging to maintain EtCO2? Are you going to stick with their original 15 mmHg? Many protocols limit you to 25 mmHg since blowing...

As mentioned above, stick with your protocols and education. If you do feel its necessary, maintain sterility as much as possible, never force the catheter beyond where it naturally stops and never ever whip it around thinking that you are spinning the tip 360 degrees (I had to mention this as...

Remember those oxygen bars that were the rage a decade or so ago? Essentially a bank of concentators with the gas being bubbled through humidifiers filled with water and raspberries/mango/orange and then nasal cannula. Most of them came and went due to poor sales.

One of the patients I experienced it with was a 16 year old MS patient...very thin and one of the last people you'd expect, but when you think about it he suffered from hypoventilation for most of his life creating a COPD-like picture.

I have experienced it a couple of times across my 20 year career where the patient required high FiO2 delivery to maintain acceptable sat levels, yet became drowsy and incoherent upon reaching SpO2 levels of 98+%. When I lowered the FiO2 to maintain 88-92%, their level of consciousness improved...

Interesting point. The topic of Narcan has been discussed a fair bit but does anyone carry flumazenil as a benzo antagonist?

Blindside makes some interesting points. The issue with administering positive pressure to a hypotensive patient is that the increased intrathoracic pressures created by positive pressures could exacerbate the hypotension (or so the theory states). Working in hospitals, respirologists and...

You really have to have a good grasp of the A&P to fully comprehend the function and benefits of CPAP. It has been used in hospitals for a couple of decades for CHF/APE but they had unlimited access to power and oxygen reserves. Only in the last 10 years have reliable, easy to use units been...

My understanding is that medical grade is at least 99% pure. Home oxygen concentrators get around 93-95%. As a transport RT, we considered filling our cylinders with aviation oxygen since it can be performed right at the plane, but the idea was abandoned as it wasn't "medical grade" (I heard...