Pneumobelt for sleep in the ventilator user: clinical experience
A pneumobelt with a positive pressure respirator was used for sleep for three patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency secondary to syringomyelia, poliomyelitis, and Friedreich's ataxia respectively. This device was found to be effective in improving and maintaining their daily functioning in the [...]
Alternative approach to the respiratory management of the high cervical spinal cord injury patient
The loss of normal respiratory functions is usually seen following high cervical spinal cord injuries. Since respiration is mainly a function of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, paralysis of these groups will result in respiratory insufficiency. The traditional management approach of bedside [...]
Daytime noninvasive ventilatory support for patients with ventilatory pump failure: a narrative review
Over the past three decades, the use of noninvasive ventilation or "NIV" to assuage symptoms of hypoventilation for patients with early onset or mild ventilatory pump failure has been extended to up to the use of continuous noninvasive ventilatory support (CNVS) at [.. .]
Noninvasive respiratory management of high level spinal cord injury
This article describes noninvasive acute and long-term management of the respiratory muscle paralysis of high spinal cord injury (SCI). This includes full-setting, continuous ventilatory support by noninvasive intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIV) to support inspiratory muscles and mechanically assisted coughing (MAC) to [...]
A Device for Improving Oxygenation in Patients With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
In this paper we present a device for improving blood oxygenation in patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). ARDS is caused by lung-related illness or injury, and can occur in mechanically ventilated ICU patients due to volutrauma or barotrauma. In ARDS, […]
Pulmonary rehabilitation coupled with negative pressure ventilation decreases decline in lung function, hospitalizations, and medical cost in COPD: A 5-year study
Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) brings benefits to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Negative pressure ventilation (NPV) increases ventilation and decreases hyperinflation as well as breathing work in COPD. We evaluated the long-term effects of a hospital-based PR program coupled with NPV [...]