Chest
Clinical InvestigationsA New Oxygen Applicator for Simultaneous Mouth and Nose Breathing
Section snippets
Principle of the New Applicator
The principle of the new applicator is depicted in Figure 1. Enlargement of the outlet area and additional turbulence as a result of centrifugal flow reduces the high initial oxygen flow velocity from the thin tube. Thus, oxygen accumulates around the applicator in the form of a cloud and can be inhaled by mouth or nose.
The oxygen flow velocity at the outlet is calculated as the oxygen flow is divided by the diameter of the tube through which the oxygen flows. For example, for nasal oxygen
RESULTS
The initial blood gas values during room air breathing (oxygen flow = 0 L) were not significantly different for the oxygen mask and the new applicator, whether subjects breathed through the mouth or nose (Table 1).
The average percentage increase in Po2 was not significantly different for oxygen administration up to 2 L/min for the two methods of administration, neither for oral nor for nasal breathing (Fig 6). Significance was achieved at 3 L/min (mouth breathing, p = 0.06; nose breathing, p =
DISCUSSION
A comfortable oxygen delivery system is desirable for long-term oxygen therapy. Face masks are hardly ever used in Germany as they are uncomfortable (warm air congestion, speech impaired, and food uptake impossible) and can cause a rise in Pco2.5, 12 In Great Britain, North America, and Scandinavia more comfortable, cooler Venturi masks providing controlled oxygen are widely used, although they are obtrusive and are difficult to use while eating. Single- or double-lumened nasal cannulas are
ACKNOWLEDGMENT:
The writers thank Dr. Mike Newhouse for preparing this manuscript and Brigitte Fischer for secretarial assistance.
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