AARC Clinical Practice Guidelines: Capillary Blood Gas Sampling for Neonatal and Pediatric Patients.

In the absence of an indwelling arterial catheter, capillary blood gas sampling may be used to evaluate the acid/base and ventilation status of neonatal and pediatric patients with cardiorespiratory conditions. These guidelines were developed from a comprehensive review of the literature to provide guidance for the collection, handling, and interpretation of blood obtained from an arterialized capillary sample. Capillary and venous blood gas measurements are a useful alternative to arterial blood gas measurements for neonatal and pediatric patients who do not require close monitoring of [Formula: see text] In the presence of alterations in body temperature, blood pressure, or peripheral perfusion, agreement between a capillary blood gas with an arterial sample is recommended to determine whether changes in these physiologic conditions reduce reliability.

Kittredge Lecture: Airway Safety in Neonatal and Pediatrics.

During invasive ventilatory support, infants and children are inherently at risk for developing injury or complications related to the insertion and maintenance of an endotracheal tube (ETT). It is essential for respiratory therapists to understand the factors that contribute to the propensity for harm while preparing for, inserting, securing, and maintaining the position of an ETT throughout the duration of use. Implementing care bundles based on the available literature is useful in reducing iatrogenic complications as well as the risk for morbidity and mortality of pediatric patients requiring an ETT to facilitate respiratory support.

Development and internal validation of an equation using anthropometric measures to predict correct endotracheal tube insertion depth.

Purpose: To develop, internally validate, and assess the utility of implementing a regression model for determining endotracheal tube (ETT) insertion depth.

Research Methods: We recorded height, weight, age, sex, ETT internal diameter (ID), lip marking, and tracheal position from the electronic record from a random subset of 2,000 intubated subjects obtained from 1 January 2009 to 5 May 2012. A multivariable linear regression model was constructed and validated by a nonparametric bootstrapping technique using unrestricted random sampling methods.

An evaluation of temperature stability and resistance in neonatal ventilator circuits.

Background: Gas conditioning minimizes complications associated with invasive ventilation of neonates. Poorly conditioned gas contributes to humidity deficit, facilitates condensate pools, and contributes to safety events. The specific aim was to objectively quantify the temperature drop across the unheated portion of a neonatal circuit and the impact condensation has to resistance to flow in the ventilator circuit.

AARC Clinical Practice Guideline: Management of Pediatric Patients With Tracheostomy in the Acute Care Setting.

Children requiring a tracheostomy to maintain airway patency or to facilitate long-term mechanical ventilatory support require comprehensive care and committed, trained, direct caregivers to manage their complex needs safely. These guidelines were developed from a comprehensive review of the literature to provide guidance for the selection of the type of tracheostomy tube (cuffed vs uncuffed), use of communication devices, implementation of daily care bundles, timing of first tracheostomy change, type of humidification used (active vs passive), timing of oral feedings, care coordination, and routine cleaning. Cuffed tracheostomy tubes should only be used for positive-pressure ventilation or to prevent aspiration.

Devices Used for CPAP Delivery.

CPAP is a spontaneous mode of ventilation that maintains a constant airway pressure during the inspiratory and expiratory phases. This therapeutic modality is used across the continuum of care from pre-hospital treatment to intensive and acute care units to the home care environment to treat a host of acute and chronic clinical conditions. A variety of devices are currently available for the delivery of CPAP, including oxygen-conserving valved systems, continuous-flow generators, portable demand-flow devices, and mechanical ventilators.

Accuracy and Precision of an Optoacoustic Prototype in Determining Endotracheal Tube Position in Children.

Background: Confirmation of endotracheal tube (ETT) tip position and timely identification and correction of malposition is an essential component of care for endotracheally intubated and mechanically ventilated children. We evaluated the ability of a prototype optoacoustic medical device to determine ETT tip position. We hypothesized that the precision of optoacoustic assessment of ETT tip position would be comparable to chest radiography.

Adherence to Endotracheal Tube Depth Guidelines and Incidence of Malposition in Infants and Children.

Background: Adherence to guidelines for endotracheal tube (ETT) insertion depth may not be sufficient to prevent malposition or harm to the patient. To obtain an estimate of ETT malpositioning, we evaluated initial postintubation chest radiographs and hypothesized that many ETTs in multiple intubation settings would be malpositioned despite adherence to Pediatric Advanced Life Support and Neonatal Resuscitation Program guidelines.

Methods: In a random subset (randomization table) of 2,000 initial chest radiographs obtained from January 1, 2009, to May 5, 2012, we recorded height, weight, age, sex, ETT inner diameter, and cm marking at the lip from the electronic health record.

Ventilator Boot Camp Improves the Knowledge and Skills Associated With Mechanical Ventilator Use During Interfacility Transport of Intubated Pediatric Patients.

Background: The American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Transport recommends the use of portable ventilators during the transport of patients with advanced airways. We sought to identify knowledge gaps and evaluate the effectiveness of a transport ventilator competency boot camp.

Methods: Electronic health records of children requiring ventilatory support during air and ground interfacility transport from January 1 through December 31, 2015, were reviewed to determine when manual ventilation was used in lieu of a portable ventilator, and simulations were constructed from commonly occurring scenarios.

Validating Lung Models Using the ASL 5000 Breathing Simulator.

Objective: This study sought to validate pediatric models with normal and altered pulmonary mechanics.

Methods: PubMed and CINAHL databases were searched for studies directly measuring pulmonary mechanics of healthy infants and children, infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia and neuromuscular disease. The ASL 5000 was used to construct models using tidal volume (VT), inspiratory time (TI), respiratory rate, resistance, compliance, and esophageal pressure gleaned from literature.

Evaluation of Functional Characteristics of 4 Oscillatory Positive Pressure Devices in a Simulated Cystic Fibrosis Model.

Background: Oscillatory positive expiratory pressure (OPEP) is an airway clearance therapy that delivers positive pressure and air-flow oscillations during exhalation. This study described functional characteristic differences of 4 OPEP devices during an active exhalation in a simulated model. We hypothesized peak pressure (Ppeak), positive expiratory pressure (PEP), oscillatory frequency (f), and pressure amplitude will differ, depending upon the device used, device resistance setting, and time (repeated consecutive active exhalations through the device).

Reducing Unplanned Extubations in the NICU Using Lean Methodology.

Background: Unplanned extubations can lead to iatrogenic injury and have the potential to contribute to serious safety events. We adopted lean methodology to reduce the unplanned extubation rate in a Level 3b NICU. We hypothesized that the use of a rapid-cycle PDSA (plan, do, study, act) initiative would reduce the unplanned extubation rate.

Evaluating the Effect of Flow and Interface Type on Pressures Delivered With Bubble CPAP in a Simulated Model.

Background: Bubble CPAP, used for spontaneously breathing infants to avoid intubation or postextubation support, can be delivered with different interface types. This study compared the effect that interfaces had on CPAP delivery. We hypothesized that there would be no difference between set and measured levels between interface types.

AARC Clinical Practice Guideline: Effectiveness of Pharmacologic Airway Clearance Therapies in Hospitalized Patients.

Aerosolized medications are used as airway clearance therapy to treat a variety of airway diseases. These guidelines were developed from a systematic review with the purpose of determining whether the use of these medications to promote airway clearance improves oxygenation and respiratory mechanics, reduces ventilator time and ICU stay, and/or resolves atelectasis/consolidation compared with usual care. Recombinant human dornase alfa should not be used in hospitalized adult and pediatric patients without cystic fibrosis.

Neonatal respiratory therapist-led rounds can improve staff satisfaction and timeliness of respiratory interventions.

Background: Interdisciplinary rounding is used to establish and communicate patient care goals and monitor progress toward goal attainment. This study describes staff satisfaction and process outcomes associated with respiratory therapist (RT)-led interdisciplinary rounds in the neonatal ICU. We hypothesized improved staff satisfaction, execution of orders within 30 min of order entry into the electronic medical record, and communication of accurate and complete data during rounds to the interdisciplinary team.

Body mass index moderates the effects of portable oxygen transport modality on 6-minute walk distance in patients with COPD.

Purpose: While portable, supplemental oxygen is often necessary for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to retain independence, it may provide functional limitations because of the increased workload imposed. This issue may result in nonuse, creating a need to identify carrying modalities that optimize transport. This study assessed the effects of 3 methods of portable oxygen transport on 6-minute walk distance (6 MWD), rate of perceived exertion (RPE), heart rate (HR), and oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO2).

AARC clinical practice guideline: effectiveness of nonpharmacologic airway clearance therapies in hospitalized patients.

Airway clearance therapy (ACT) is used in a variety of settings for a variety of ailments. These guidelines were developed from a systematic review with the purpose of determining whether the use of nonpharmacologic ACT improves oxygenation, reduces length of time on the ventilator, reduces stay in the ICU, resolves atelectasis/consolidation, and/or improves respiratory mechanics, versus usual care in 3 populations. For hospitalized, adult and pediatric patients without cystic fibrosis, 1) chest physiotherapy (CPT) is not recommended for the routine treatment of uncomplicated pneumonia; 2) ACT is not recommended for routine use in patients with COPD; 3) ACT may be considered in patients with COPD with symptomatic secretion retention, guided by patient preference, toleration, and effectiveness of therapy; 4) ACT is not recommended if the patient is able to mobilize secretions with cough, but instruction in effective cough technique may be useful.

Airway clearance therapy: finding the evidence.

Disease processes can impair ciliary function, alter secretion production and mucus rheology, and interfere with the cough reflex. Airway clearance therapy has been a cornerstone of therapy aimed at minimizing the devastating effects of airway obstruction, infection, and inflammation due to mucus stasis on the conducting airways and lung parenchyma. Although challenges to performing clinical studies evaluating the effectiveness of airway clearance therapeutic modalities exist, resources are available in the literature.

Respiratory Care year in review 2012: invasive mechanical ventilation, noninvasive ventilation, and cystic fibrosis.

For the busy clinician, educator, or manager, it is becoming an increasing challenge to filter the literature to what is relevant to one's practice and then update one's practice based on the current evidence. The purpose of this paper is to review the recent literature related to invasive mechanical ventilation, noninvasive ventilation, and cystic fibrosis. These topics were chosen and reviewed in a manner that is most likely to have interest to the readers of Respiratory Care.

Use of the Breathlessness, Cough, and Sputum Scale (BCSS(©)) in Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

Background: In pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) effective measures have been taken while in analyzing a patient's intervention with the help of entry to exit evaluations. The absence of an objective and quantifiable scale are limitations of PR that allow analyzing of a patient's self reported symptoms throughout PR. The Breathlessness, Cough and Sputum Scale (BCSS(©)) is used to predict patient exacerbations by evaluating common symptoms identified in the COPD population.