1996 OPEN FORUM Abstracts
EVALUATION OF A BATTERY POWERED PRESSURE SUPPORT VENTILATOR
Robert R, McConnell, RRT, Heather Fredericksen, RRT, Sharon Day, RRT, Neil R. MacIntyre, MD, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.
BACKGROUND: The TBird ventilator system (Bird Products, Inc., Palm Springs, CA.) is the first ventilator system to combine pressure support and battery powered operation utilizing a turbine for high pressure air. We conducted pre-market evaluation of the performance of the TBird in the pressure support mode while operating on DC battery power. Methods: Thirteen stable patients in the ICU being ventilated in the pressure support mode with other critical care ventilators where chosen for the evaluation. The patients were sequentially managed using the exact same settings on their baseline ventilator, on TBird with AC power, on TBird with DC power, and after return to baseline ventilator. Data measured included; tidal volume, PEEP, respiratory rate, FiO2, SpO2, and ABG. Analysis was by ANOVA with P < .05 taken as significant. Results: Mean ± standard deviation (STD) differences between baseline ventilator and TBird on AC and DC power are given in TABLE:
FIO2 FIO2 FIO2 PaO2 PaO2
B1-TB(AC) B1-TB(DC) B1-B2 B1-TB(AC) B1-TB(DC)
Mean 0.00 -0.00 -0.00 -0.15 -2.69
STD 0.02 0.02 0.01 15.73 21.56
(continued)
PaO2 PaO2 PaO2 PaO2
B1-B2 B1-TB(AC) B1-TB(DC) B1-B2
Mean 5.85 -0.15 0.92 -0.15
STD 22.29 3.39 3.69 4.11
Vt Vt Vt PEEP PEEP
B1-TB(AC) B1-TB(DC) B1-B2 B1-TB(AC) B1-TB(DC)
Mean 0.02 0.01 0.02 0.37 0.29
STD 0.13 0.12 0.05 0.99 0.9
(continued)
PEEP Rate Rate Rate
B1-B2 B1-TB(AC) B1-TB(DC) B1-B2
Mean -0.080 .45 -0.85 -0.08
STD 0.27 1.78 3.48 5.85
B1 = Baseline Ventilator, TB(AC) = TBird 120v, TB(DC) = TBird on Battery, B2 = Post Evaluation Baseline None of these differences reached statistical significance
EXPERIENCE: The TBird worked well in the pressure support mode, the patient appeared comfortable and stable, additionally the turbine provided a stable FiO2, with very quiet operation and a lightweight design. CONCLUSION: The TBird Ventilator System will be a useful device for delivering pressure support in a variety of settings including critical care, subacute, or when battery operation is necessary.
Reference: OF-96-113