A simple method to estimate flow restriction for dual ventilation of dissimilar patients: The BathRC model.

ABSTRACT:

Background

With large numbers of COVID-19 patients requiring mechanical ventilation and ventilators possibly being in short supply, in extremis two patients may have to share one ventilator. Careful matching of patient ventilation requirements is necessary. However, good matching is difficult to achieve as lung characteristics can have a wide range and may vary over time. Adding flow restriction to the flow path between ventilator and patient gives the opportunity to control the airway pressure and hence flow and volume individually for each patient. This study aimed to create and validate a simple model for calculating required flow restriction.

Methods and findings

We created a simple linear resistance-compliance model, termed the BathRC model, of the ventilator tubing sys

SUBMITTER: Plummer AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7668571 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature