Accurate breath detection is crucial in sleep and respiratory physiology research and in several clinical settings. However, this process is technically challenging due to measurement and physiological artifacts and other factors such as variable leaks in the breathing circuit. Recently developed techniques to quantify the multiple causes of obstructive sleep apnea, require intermittent changes...

BACKGROUND The authors hypothesized that nasal mask ventilation may be more effective than combined oral-nasal mask ventilation during induction of general anesthesia. They tested this hypothesis by comparing the volume of carbon dioxide removed per breath with nasal versus combined oral-nasal mask ventilation in nonparalyzed, apneic, adult subjects during induction of general anesthesia. MET...

REVIEW QUESTION/OBJECTIVE Does the use of capnography versus pulse oximetry increase the early detection of respiratory compromise and improve safety in non-intubated patients undergoing moderate sedation for gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures?Respiratory compromise will be detected by alveolar hypoventilation/hyperventilation (EtCO2 < 35 mmHg/EtCO2 > 50 mmHg), arterial oxygen desaturation (...

Respiratory events are the most common anaesthetic related injuries, following dental damage. The three main causes of respiratory related injuries are inadequate ventilation, oesophageal intubation and difficult tracheal intubation. Difficult tracheal intubation accounts for 17% of the respiratory related injuries and results in significant morbidity and mortality. In fact up to 28% of all ana...

BACKGROUND Potentially infected individuals ('source') are sometimes encouraged to use face masks to reduce exposure of their infectious aerosols to others ('receiver'). To improve compliance with Respiratory Source Control via face mask and therefore reduce receiver exposure, a mask should be comfortable and effective. We tested a novel face mask designed to improve breathability and filtratio...

CONTEXT Face masks are recommended for patients with respiratory symptoms to reduce influenza transmission. Little knowledge exists regarding actual utilization and acceptance of face masks in primary care. OBJECTIVE Compare distribution of face masks to clinic and community trends in respiratory infection (RI) and influenza-like illness (ILI); estimate the annual need for face masks in prima...

Exacerbations of COPD that result in acute respiratory failure requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation have high morbidity and mortality. This study is a retrospective observational study that compared the outcomes of 237 patients with COPD and acute respiratory failure requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission according to modality of initial therapy: mask continuous positive airwa...

BACKGROUND Fencers often complain of progressive difficulty in breathing during matches, which is generally attributed to restricted air, light and heat circulation from wearing a mask. Physiologically, the nasal structure generates airflow resistance that can reach -50% of the total respiratory resistance. OBJECTIVES This study aims to investigate the presence of nasal obstruction in fencers...

results sore throat was recorded in 32.9% of patients with lma and 44.2% of intubated patients, but it was not statistically significant (fisher’s exact test = 0.158). hoarseness was recorded in 3.5% of patients with lma and 24.4% of intubated patients (fisher’s exact test = 0.000). in 1.2% of patients with lma cough was recorded; it was also seen in 7% of the intubated patients (fisher’s exact...

When supplementary oxygen is necessary with nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV), the optimal route by which it should be added to the ventilator circuit is unknown. We investigated the oxygen concentration received when oxygen was supplied at flow rates between 0 and 6 L.min-1 into the proximal ventilator tubing or the nasal mask whilst patients were ventilated with air. El...