High efficiency particulate air filters and heat & moisture exchanger filters increase positive end-expiratory pressure in helmet continuous positive airway pressure: A bench-top study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Helmet continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has been widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specific filters (i.e. High Efficiency Particulate Air filter: HEPA; Heat & Moisture Exchanger Filter: HMEF) were used to prevent Sars-CoV2 environmental dispersion and were connected to the CPAP helmet. However, HEPA and HMEF filters may act as resistors to expiratory gas flow and increase the levels of pressure within the hood.

Methods

In a bench-top study, we investigated the levels of airway pressure generated by different HEPA and HMEF filters connected to the CPAP helmet in the absence of a Positive End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) valve and with two levels of PEEP (5 and 10 cmH₂O). All steps were performed using 3 increasing levels of gas flow (60,

SUBMITTER: Rezoagli E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9252871 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature