Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) has been widely used to decrease the complications associated with tracheal intubation in mechanically ventilated patients. However, nasal ulcerations may occur when conventional masks are used for continuous ventilation. A total face mask, which has no contact with the more sensitive areas of the face, is a possible option. We describe 3 patients with acute respi...

Non-invasive ventilation is commonly used for respiratory support. However, in some cases, mask application can cause pressure ulcers to specific features of the face, resulting in pain and reduced quality of life for the individual. This study investigated the effects of mask strap tension on the biomechanical and biomarker responses at the skin interface. Healthy participants (n = 13) were re...

OBJECTIVE To compare the comfort of oxygen therapy via high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) versus via conventional face mask in patients with acute respiratory failure. Acute respiratory failure was defined as blood oxygen saturation < 96% while receiving a fraction of inspired oxygen > or = 0.50 via face mask. METHODS Oxygen was first humidified with a bubble humidifier and delivered via face mas...

The choice of the interface for noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is a key factor in NIV success. We hypothesised that a new helmet specifically design to improve performance in hypercapnic patients would be clinically equivalent to a standard oronasal mask. In a multicentre, short-term, physiological, randomised trial in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients facing an acute hypercapnic re...

PURPOSE To describe a case of intraoperative passive regurgitation where the ProSeal laryngeal mask airway (PLMA) successfully protected the airway from the respiratory tract. CLINICAL FEATURES A 32-yr-old man was electively scheduled for change of dressings and application of plaster of Paris to both legs. A size 5 PLMA was inserted on the first attempt and the patient allowed to breathe spo...

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Previous studies have shown that noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) improves gas exchange in acute and chronic respiratory failure. However, some patients are unable to tolerate NPPV due to air leaks around the mask, facial discomfort, and claustrophobia. A new mask that covers the entire face (Total, Respironics, Monroeville, Pa), attempts to overcome these obstacles. We studied ...