2004 OPEN FORUM Abstracts
Pharyngeal oxygen concentrations in normal subjects wearing the hiox80® mask
Richard
B. Wettstein, BS, RRT; Jay I. Peters, MD; David C. Shelledy, PhD,
RRT; The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio,
San Antonio, Texas.
Introduction:
The non-rebreather mask (NRB) is a commonly used oxygen delivery
device for delivering high oxygen concentrations (OC) (55-70%)1.
Recently the HiOx80® (VIASYS
Healthcare Inc.
Conshohocken, PA) was introduced. The manufacture states the
Hi-Ox80 is “the only commercially available disposable oxygen
mask capable of delivering >80% oxygen at only 8 liters per minute
of oxygen flow.”2 We wished to verify this by
measuring the pharyngeal oxygen concentration on human subjects.
Methods: Ten healthy subjects were used in the study. Prior to
oxygen administration a pharyngeal catheter was placed with the tip
resting behind the uvula. Oxygen was then administered at flows of 8,
10, 12, and 15 L/min via the HiOx80 mask. While breathing at a
resting
level three samples were drawn from the pharynx and analyzed.
Results: The mean OC and standard deviation are shown below:
| Liter flow | Mean OC | Standard Deviation |
| 8 | 65.6% | 11.9% |
| 10 | 69.8% | 9.9% |
| 12 | 73.8% | 8.5% |
| 15 | 76.1% | 10.7% |
The
mask was capable of delivering OC in excess of 80%, as on all liter
flow settings the upper portion of the range surpassed 80%. However
on all liter flow settings the mean was less than 80%. In addition
the lower end of the range dipped as low as 33% on the 8 L/min.
Conclusion:
When a moderate to high OC is desired the HiOx80 is an alternative
that supplies similar OC to the NRB mask.
1. Heuer AJ, Scanlan CL. Medical gas
therapy. In: Egan’s fundamentals of respiratory care, 8th
ed. St Louis: Mosby; 2003:834
2. http://www.viasyshealthcare.com/prod_serv/prodDetail.aspx?config=
ps_prodDtl&prodID=149
Departmental
Funding