Re: Transport Ventilator

[Ted Reesor <reesor_t@yahoo.co.uk>]

There have been some excellent points made regarding
the choice of vents.

When deciding what to purchase, you must first define
your need (short heli-hops, or fixed wing
international transports).  This may decide what
choices you have.  The company I work for will travel
around the world to repatriate patients, and I have
loaded 5 M-size cylinders in a small space in order to
ventilate them.  Work in a leak in the system, and you
quickly wish you had an oxygen miser on board.  

You may want to look for a vent that can supply above
average AIR flows, either through entrainment or
internal turbines.  The blender system we have has a
small compressor that can't supply rapid shallow
breathing.  The only solution is to increase the FiO2
to supply the flow requirements.  This can quickly eat
into your reserves.

Finally, if you are always flying in the same type of
aircraft, you may want to include input with the
flight crew.  It is their aircraft and it would add
tremendous credibility to the whole teamwork aspect,
especially if you plan to mount the equipment you
purchase.  Lack of input is something we always accuse
management of doing, so it wouldn't be fair to do the
same to others.

Cheers,

Ted Reesor, RRCP
Flight Respiratory Therapist
Burlington, Ontario, Canada

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