HELIOX administration in patients with COPD exacerbation by using modified anesthesiologic circuit with rebreathing
Abstract
Heliox is a mixture of helium and oxygen, whose density is significantly lower than that of air and/or oxygen. The easier flow of gases in the airways when using heliox is relevant for patients with airway obstruction or narrowing, including those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The aim of the experiment was to determine whether the flow resistance rates of the inspiration and expiration arms of the designed semi-closed circuit with rebreathing do not pose a challenge to and a significant increase in the flow resistance rate for the spontaneously breathing patient. As compared with pure air, the flow resistance rates of various parts of the ventilation circuit declined by 21–72% when using heliox.
When using heliox, the flow resistance rate of the circuit decreased by 25%. The highest factor for additive resistance rate is the bacterial filter.
Removal of bacterial filters from the circuit arm will decrease the resistance rate of either arm by another third. Results of our analysis show that, the resistance flow rate in the present system does not pose a major problem for the patient with COPD exacerbation.