Canadian respiratory therapists who considered leaving their clinical position experienced elevated moral distress and adverse psychological and functional outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Respiratory therapists (RTs) faced morally distressing situations throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including working with limited resources and facilitating video calls for families of dying patients. Moral distress is associated with a host of adverse psychological and functional outcomes (e.g.

Characterizing the mental health and functioning of Canadian respiratory therapists during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Healthcare professionals (HCPs) appear to be at increased risk for negative psychological outcomes [e.g. depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), moral distress] and associated impacts on functioning throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Point-of-care ultrasound training for respiratory therapists: A scoping review.

Introduction: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), although commonly used in clinical practice, is not currently included in training programs for respiratory therapists (RTs). In fact, given its ubiquity and clinical utility, RTs in Ontario, Canada, are changing their mandate to incorporate POCUS into their daily patient assessment. Therefore, we conducted a scoping review of the literature, aiming to describe the current evidence of POCUS training and methods of curriculum delivery for RTs to inform an evidence-based program design.

Cuff Leak Test and Airway Obstruction in Mechanically Ventilated Intensive Care Unit Patients: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Laryngeal edema is a known complication of endotracheal intubation that may cause airway obstruction upon extubation. The only test available to predict this complication is the cuff leak test (CLT). Given the uncertainty of the CLT's clinical utility, we conducted the COMIC (uff Leak Test and Airway bstruction in echanically Ventilated U Patients) pilot study to examine the feasibility of undertaking a larger trial.

Endotracheal intubation with barrier protection.

Given the high risk of healthcare worker (HCW) infection with COVID-19 during aerosol-generating medical procedures, the use of a box barrier during intubation for protection of HCWs has been examined. Previous simulation work has demonstrated its efficacy in protecting HCWs from cough-expelled droplets. Our objective was to assess its ability to protect HCWs against aerosols generated during aerosol-generating medical procedures.

Virtual application of simulation during a pandemic.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic introduced challenges to the use of simulation, including limited personal protective equipment and restricted time and personnel. Our use of video for in situ simulation aimed to circumvent these challenges and assist in the development of a protocol for protected intubation and simultaneously educate emergency department (ED) staff. We video-recorded a COVID-19 respiratory failure in situ simulation event, which was shared by a facilitator both virtually and in the ED.

Comparison of Continuous positive airway pressure versus High flow nasal cannula for Oral feeding Preterm infants (CHOmP): randomized pilot study.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of conducting a study comparing nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) or heated, humidified, high flow nasal cannula (HHHFNC) on oral feeding in preterm infants.

Study Design: Randomized controlled pilot study in a level III NICU, of infants' born ≤28°weeks who at 34°weeks post menstrual age (PMA) were dependent on noninvasive ventilation (NIV). Infants were randomized evenly to nCPAP or HHHFNC groups and orally fed on low-flow oxygen.

Cuff Leak Test and Airway Obstruction in Mechanically Ventilated ICU Patients (COMIC): a pilot randomised controlled trial protocol.

Introduction: Endotracheal intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation are lifesaving interventions that are commonly performed in the intensive care unit (ICU). Laryngeal oedema is a known complication of intubation that may cause airway obstruction in a patient on extubation. To date, the only test available to predict this complication is the cuff leak test (CLT); however, its diagnostic accuracy and utility remains uncertain.