Abstract
Objective: To examine the effect of varying circuit design and the fresh gas flow rate on the circuit work imposed by a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) circuit. Design: Circuit work was measured during simulated inspiration (500 mL) with a lung model at inspiratory flow rates (V) of 40, 60, and 80 L/min during the administration of 10 cm H2O CPAP through either a modified Mapleson-A or modified Mapleson-D circuit, both alone and when connected to a face mask (i.e., simulating an intubated and nonintubated patient). Fresh gas flow was varied from 10 to 250 L/min. Results: The minimum circuit work occurred at a fresh gas flow rate approximating V; however, circuit work was consistently lower for the modified Mapleson-A circuit compared with the modified Mapleson-D circuit. As the fresh gas flow rate was increased sequentially to 250 L/min, circuit work remained close to the minimum value for the modified Mapleson-A, but increased gradually with the modified Mapleson-D, e.g., from 0.017 kg·m/L at a fresh gas flow rate and V of 80 L/min to 0.035 kg·m/L at a fresh gas flow rate of 250 L/min and a V of 80 L/min. Rotation of the fresh gas flow inlet did not change the circuit work vs. fresh gas flow rate relationship. Addition of a face mask resulted in a smaller increase in circuit work for the modified Mapleson-D with increasing fresh gas flow rate. However, unlike the modified Mapleson-A circuit alone, the addition of a mask caused circuit work to increase with increasing fresh gas flow rate. Conclusions: The modified Mapleson-A circuit at a fresh gas flow rate equal to V minimizes circuit work, and hence represents an optimal CPAP circuit. The increases in circuit work at fresh gas flow rates above V that were found with the modified Mapleson-D circuit are not due to inertial differences, and are likey due to turbulent gas flow.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 266-270 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Critical Care Medicine |
Volume | 19 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 1991 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Hypoxemia
- Mechanical
- Positive end-expiratory pressure
- Positive pressure respiration
- Respiration
- Respiratory failure
- Ventilation
- Work of breathing