Comparison of commercial and noncommercial endotracheal tube-securing devices.

Background: Tracheal intubation is used to establish a secure airway in patients who require mechanical ventilation. Unexpected extubation can have serious complications, including airway trauma and death. Various methods and devices have been developed to maintain endotracheal tube (ETT) security.

Performance comparison of 15 transport ventilators.

Background: Numerous mechanical ventilators are designed and marketed for use in patient transport. The complexity of these ventilators differs considerably, but very few data exist to compare their operational capabilities.

Methods: Using bench and animal models, we studied 15 currently available transport ventilators with regard to their physical characteristics, gas consumption (duration of an E-size oxygen cylinder), battery life, ease of use, need for compressed gas, ability to deliver set ventilation parameters to a test lung under 3 test conditions, and ability to maintain ventilation and oxygenation in normal and lung-injured sheep.

The impact of closed endotracheal suctioning systems on mechanical ventilator performance.

Background: Closed endotracheal suctioning during mechanical ventilation is increasingly used, but its impact on ventilator function has not been fully studied.

Methods: We evaluated the impact of closed suctioning with 11 critical-care ventilators, during assisted ventilation in pressure-support mode, pressure-assist/control mode, volume-assist/control mode, and during continuous positive airway pressure, with 2 suctioning pressures (-120 mm Hg and approximately -200 mm Hg), and with 2 tidal volumes (450 mL and 900 mL). We continuously measured airway pressure, flow at the airway, and pressure distal to the catheter tip, before, during, and after a single 15-second period of continuous suctioning.