Posted on

Mask types

Mask types

Nasal mask

  • Not appropriate for Covid CPAP as we are unable to attach a second filter to the circuit.

Oro-nasal mask

  • Comes in Small, Medium and Large
  • Useful for mouth breathers
  • Often offer a better fit with a smaller leak

Full face mask

  • Comes in Small, Large and Extra Large
  • Non-compliance with (oro-nasal mask)
  • Rapid application
  • Lack of teeth/Are dentures secure in the mouth?
  • Facial abnormalities
  • Can be more claustraphobic for patient
  • Leak is often higher with this mask
Posted on

Monitoring

Monitoring

Hourly patient monitoring:

  • Respiratory rate: Monitor this through the CPAP machine as it is more accurate that the cardiac monitor
  • Heart rate
  • Blood pressure
  • Temperature
  • SpO2
  • The amount of oxygen the patient is on
  • Leak
  • Expired Tidal Volume
  • Peak Inspiratory Pressure
  • Accessory Muscle use
  • Patient repositioning
  • Fluid chart: Intake and output
Posted on

Proning

Proning

Instructions for patients

  • Try not to spend a lot of time lying flat on your back.
  • Lying on your stomach and in different positions will aid your body to get air into all the areas of your lungs.
  • You are recommended to change your position every 30 minutes to 2 hours rotating your body into different positions as described below.

How to change position

  • 1. Lie face down in the prone position with the bed flat (for 30 mins to 2 hrs).
  • 2. Rotate to lie on your right side with the bed flat (for 30 mins to 2 hrs).
  • 3. Adjust the bed to a sitting position (30-60 degrees) then sit in this supported position (for 30mins to 2 hrs).
  • 4. Lower the bed to flat and lie on your left side (for 30 mins to 2 hrs).
  • 5. Return to lie face down in the prone position with the bed flat (for 30 mins to 2 hrs).
Posted on

Machine alarms and what they mean

Machine alarms and what they mean

These alarms should always be set for each patient.

Aponea alarm

  • Set at 10-60 seconds, suggested settings are 10/20 seconds
DO NOT TURN OFF THIS ALARM

High/low VTE

  • High – around 800 but depends on patients ideal weight
  • Low – around 200 but depends on patients ideal weight

High/low Respiratory rate

  • High – set at 10-15 breaths per minute above patients measured breathing
  • Low – set at 10-15 breaths per minute below the patients breathing rate

Circuit disconnect

  • Set at 0-15 seconds to allow for occasional excessive leaks