Performance Evaluation of a Low-Cost Non-Invasive Ventilator during the COVID-19 Pandemic. A Bench Study.

Background: During the COVID-19 breakout, a global call for low-cost portable ventilators was made following the strong demand for ventilatory support techniques. Among a few development projects, COVIDair non-invasive ventilator was developed and produced in a record time during the critical period of spring 2020.

Objectives: To evaluate COVIDair performance (i.

Impact of Unintentional Air Leaks on Automatic Positive Airway Pressure Device Performance in Simulated Sleep Apnea Events.

Background: Positive airway pressure (PAP) is the accepted standard treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. In the last decades, automatic PAP (APAP) adjustment modes have been increasingly used. Pressure auto adjustment offers better comfort to the patient and represents a valuable help for the clinician to provide optimal treatment.

The effect of tongue elevation muscle training in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: A randomised controlled trial.

Background: Oropharyngeal myofunctional therapy is a multi-component therapy effective to reduce the severity of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). However, existing protocols are difficult to replicate in the clinical setting. There is a need to isolate the specific effectiveness of each component of the therapy.

Impact of additional HEPA filter on APAP performance and CPAP pressure level in simulated sleep apnea events.

Background: CPAP is the first line treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. Recently, the use of added filters has been debated following the field safety notice of Philips Respironics™ on potential health risks due to foam degradation used in their ventilators. However, the added resistance of filters has never been analyzed.

Role of Non-Invasive Respiratory Supports in COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Failure Patients with Do Not Intubate Orders.

The current gold-standard treatment for COVID-19-related hypoxemic respiratory failure is invasive mechanical ventilation. However, do not intubate orders (DNI), prevent the use of this treatment in some cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate if non-invasive ventilatory supports can provide a good therapeutic alternative to invasive ventilation in patients with severe COVID-19 infection and a DNI.

[Place of the respiratory physiotherapist in the Covid-19 crisis: Neuchâtel experience].

The physiotherapy service became an important player in the care of patients with COVID-19 at Pourtalès hospital (Neuchâtel, Switzerland), illustrating its important role in the organization of acute care units. The workforce was increased, and the diaries extended (7/7d, 24/24h). Respiratory physiotherapists were largely involved in the initiation and the adaptation of the respiratory therapy in the units dedicated to Covid-19 patients (emergency, intensive care and pulmonology units), such as oxygen therapy and both invasive and non-invasive ventilation.