USEFUL TIPS

Respiratory Devices

The treatment of certain pathological conditions requires the use of special respiratory devices as well as the employment of specifically designed solutions or liquid medications for administration via these respiratory devices.

Ventilator: a machine that moves breathable air into and out of the lungs, to deliver breaths to patients who are physically unable to breathe, or breathe insufficiently. It is used to enhance or completely replace patient's ventilation in order to provide adequate oxygenation, reduce respiratory work and protect the lungs. Ventilator may be used either in invasive (intubation) or non-invasive way in cases such as respiratory failure, coma, suppression, burns, disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system, respiratory muscles and chest diseases that affect airways and alveoli.

Suction: a device used for removing bronchial secretions to keep the airways clear of secretions, to avoid plugging of the airways and in order to facilitate breathing and for the prevention of infections and pulmonary aspiration. Suction is achieved through a special catheter and by applying negative pressure. Prerequisite: the inability of the patient to eliminate cough secretions.

Hypertonic solutions: In patients with COPD, cystic fibrosis, acute bronchitis, bronchiolitis, upper and lower respiratory infections, asthma etc., among other medications (e.g. bronchodilators and corticosteroids), Sodium Chloride solutions are also suggested for the decongestion and hydration of the respiratory mucosa, as well as, for their antimicrobial action. NEBU-dose NaCl 3% and NEBU-dose Plus with hyaluronic acid are the products that Allertec has in its portfolio which are administered by nebulizing devices and can also be added as solvents in the nebulization of other inhaled drugs.

Nebulizer: a drug delivery device that turns a liquid medication to a breathable mist. Nebulizers are used for the administration of drugs directly into the lungs, by inhalation through which a sufficient dose of a wide range of drugs point (such as antibiotics, mucolytics, prostacyclin surfactant, b-adrenergic, antihοlinergics, bronchodilators and corticosteroids) reach the target.

Resuscitation devices (Ambu): an artificial manual breathing unit (AMBU), which needs to be compressed manually on a regular basis to deliver air or oxygen to patients’ lungs. It is suitable for the effective management of critical resuscitation cases, for children or adults.

Information about nebulizers

Nebulizers are recommended for the administration of inhaled medications to patients with asthma, COPD and other respiratory diseases. They are drug delivery devices that break up solutions and suspensions into small aerosol droplets that can be inhaled through a mouthpiece. The nebulizer is a strictly personal device and should not be used from different patients.

Jet nebulizers use a supply of compressed gas (air or oxygen) that flows at high velocity and passes through a liquid medicine turning it into a mist that is inhaled by the patient. Compressor-operated nebulizers are usually noisier than modern devices with vibrating grid which are completely silent.

Ultrasonic wave nebulizers operate with an electronic oscillator which causes the mechanical vibration of a piezoelectric element. This vibrating element is in contact with a liquid reservoir and its high frequency vibration is sufficient to produce a vapor mist.

Vibrating mesh technology nebulizer. With this technology a mesh/membrane with laser drilled holes vibrates at the top of the liquid reservoir, creating a mist of very fine droplets as a result of the liquid passing through the holes. This technology is considered more efficient than the traditional vibrating piezoelectric element approach because it provides shorter treatment times, accurate and uniform droplet size, less liquid waste and avoids heating of the medical liquid.

Features of the ideal nebulizer:

  • Produced droplets should be 1-5 μ in size.
  • Short nebulization time - depending on the type and quantity of the medicine (from 7-10 minutes for a quantity of medicine 2-2.5ml)
  • Low residual volume of medicine
  • Portability, to provide autonomy
  • Low noise level.
  • Easy to use, to clean and to maintain.

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