2004 OPEN FORUM Abstracts
HELIOX (70/30 He/O2) VIA THE VAPOTHERM 2000i.
Steven T Polston, RRT, Norton
Healthcare inc. Louisville, KY , In K. Kim, MD, Assistant
Professor, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, University of Louisville
Health Sciences Center.
BACKGROUND: This is an equipment
investigation examining the effects on Heliox (He/O2) delivery of the
Vapotherm® 2000i from Vapotherm® inc. Vapotherm® 2000i is
a humidification device capable of providing saturated gas at high
flow rates via nasal cannulae.
METHOD: The device was set up
with 70% Helium: 30% Oxygen (70/30 He/O2) as source gas. Our facility
uses oxygen equipment converted for He/O2 use. A CGA280 to CGA540
adapter converted a preset 50 psi Oxygen regulator/flowmeter. The
output was calculated by a 1.7 correction factor. Two flow rates were
compared: Flow A, 6 Lpm. (10 Lpm corrected) and flow B, 10 Lpm, (17
Lpm corrected). Source gas tanks were monitored to depletion as
defined by 300 psi.
RESULTS: Gas temperature entering the
Vapotherm was 16o C for all flows used. Output from the
patient delivery tube was 37o C for all flows. Tanks life
was 8.5 to 9 hours at flow A and 4 to 5.5 hours for flow B.
CONCLUSIONS: The Vapotherm 2000i device did not adversely
impact tank life. Gas flow to the patient was conditioned to provide
saturated humidity at body temperature, avoiding the delivery of dry,
cold inspired gas. The Vapotherm 2000i may serve as a useful
accessory for Heliox (He/O2) delivery.