Modification of a domiciliary ventilator to increase FiO<sub>2</sub>: an off-label modification which may be of value in COVID-19.

Mebrate, Yoseph; Phillips, Steven; Field, Debbie; Mumuni, Ivy; Josse, Paul; Alexander, David; Das-Gupta, Rishi; Trimlett, Richard et al. · Thorax · 2021

review · Level V

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Abstract

Although nasal continuous positive airway pressure or non-invasive ventilation is used to manage some patients with acute lung injury due to COVID-19, such patients also demonstrate increased minute ventilation which makes it hard, if the device is used in line with the manufacturer's instructions, to achieve adequate oxygen delivery. In addition, if a hospital contains many such patients, then it is possible that the oxygen requirements will exceed infrastructure capacity. Here we describe a simple modification of two exemplar ventilators normally used for domiciliary ventilation, which substantially increased the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO<sub>2</sub>) delivered.

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