2004 OPEN FORUM Abstracts
EVALUATION OF RC MEDICAL, INC. /WESTERN MEDICA HELIOX REGULATOR #M1-280-16FM.
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
regulator/flowmeter for Heliox delivery was evaluated as an off the
shelf replacement for our facilities practice of converting oxygen
regulators with a CGA280 to CGA540 adapter and correcting the
flowmeter output with a correction factor.
METHOD: Seventy %
helium: 30% oxygen (70/30 Heliox) was used as a source gas for a
Vapotherm® 2000i. In addition to the RC Medical regulator, two
other converted oxygen regulators were used, (Contemporary Products
inc. and Western Medica preset 50 psi regulators with oxygen
flowmeters). Tanks were timed to depletion, as defined by 300 psi, at
two flow rates; Flow A, 6 Lpm. (10 Lpm corrected) and flow B, 10 Lpm,
(17 Lpm corrected). The RC Medical regulator was set directly to 10
Lpm and 17 Lpm.
RESULTS: The converted regulators ran 8.5 to 9
hours at flow A and 4 to 5.5 hours at flow B while the RC Medical
regulator ran 4 hours and 3 hours respectively. Upon closer
examination this regulator was noted to be calibrated to 20 % helium
and 80 % oxygen.
DISCUSSION: By running 70/30 Heliox, the gas
consumption rate is higher than expected because of the lower density
gas. This is the same reason the converted regulator/flowmeters are
corrected with a factor. This would not affect delivery concentration
but would impact time to tank depletion. This regulator had been in
service for several months prior to testing. It is clearly marked on
the front of the flow meter “ Heliox 20/80”. The back of
the flow meter states “helium 20 % oxygen 80%”. We noted
that our therapists often misread the regulator to read “Heliox
80/20”. At our facility we have available 70/30 and 80/20
heliox. “Heliox” may be used incorrectly to describe any
helium and oxygen mixture. Without stating the exact concentration of
the mixture, the description is incomplete and may be inaccurate.
Care is warranted when discussing and using helium/ oxygen mixtures.