Respiratory Therapy Apparatus Health Article

Definition

Respiratory therapy apparatus refers to a group of different inhalation devices and equipment used to treat a variety of respiratory ailments.

Purpose

Respiratory therapy apparatus is used to aid a patient's breathing or heal damage to a patient's lungs and bronchial tubes due to infection and disease.

Description

Simply put, respiratory therapists help patients breathe better. Patients may have mechanical difficulties

within the lungs and trachea that make it difficult to get enough oxygen. Often these instances are life-threatening and must be treated immediately. Obstructions (e.g. a child swallowing an object) and injury (automobile accidents, sports injuries, natural disasters, etc.) are common situations in which breathing assistance is necessary. In these cases, intubation (the insertion of a tube into the trachea) is necessary to open the airway so that oxygen can be administered. Ventilators regulate the amount of oxygen that the patient receives and even how often the patient breathes. Disease and atrophy of the lungs may require the use of a ventilator to help a patient breathe.

Premature infants and some other newborns may not have lungs that are mature enough to allow them to breathe on their own. Oxygen is often administered as a life-support measure. In some cases, oxygen is given to ease the burden on the lungs until the baby is strong enough to breathe on its own.

Some patients may be suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a group of diseases that affect the lungs, which includes emphysema, bronchitis, and asthma. Other patients may have cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, pneumonia, or AIDS. In these cases, the respiratory therapist may administer medications through an inhaler or a hand-held nebulizer.

Other patients may have heart disease. The therapist may administer oxygen and also provide rehabilitation devices and techniques to increase lung capacity.

Nebulizers and inhalers

Nebulizers and inhalers provide medications in a fine mist that the patient breathes. Inhalers provide metered doses of medication and come prepackaged. They are portable and can be tucked into a pocket or handbag. So-called "rescue" inhalers are often carried by people with asthma and used when they have an episode. Special dry powder inhalers provide medications that do not work well in liquid form. These inhalers deliver the medication in fine, dry particles that are inhaled.

Metered-dose inhalers dispense specific medications and can be grouped according to type of medication. They are usually bronchodilators, inhaled steroids, cromolyn, nedrocromil, and ipratropium bromide.

Nebulizers are hand-held machines with an airflow meter that measures oxygen flow. These machines administer a variety of medications. The respiratory therapist must prepare a mixture of medication and saline solution according to the physician's written order. Nebulizers vaporize this mixture and deliver it as a fine mist or steam. Nebulizers are usually used in the hospital or nursing home setting. Disposable nebulizers are often sent home with a patient and are cleaned and reused for a limited time. There are three types of nebulizers: large-volume, small-volume, and ultrasonic.

Intubation catheters and ventilators

Intubation catheters are inserted into the airway and fill the lungs with oxygen at a specific respiratory rate. Ventilators provide mechanical breathing though the catheters and are said to "breathe" for the patient. The amount of oxygen can be varied as well as the breathing rate.

Oxygen masks, nasal cannulas, and oxygen tanks

Oxygen masks, nasal cannulas, and oxygen tanks provide oxygen therapy and assistance in maintaining specific oxygen levels within the lungs. Oxygen masks fit over the mouth and nose, whereas cannulas are thin tubes inserted into the nasal openings. Tubing connects the mask or cannula to the oxygen tank from which oxygen is delivered.

Oxygen masks come in a variety of sizes. There are very small ones used to fit premature infants faces. Adult-size masks come in small, medium, and large. Masks usually provide high flow and a high concentration of oxygen within a range to the patient. Ventilator masks come with a series of different adaptors that allow a specific percentage of oxygen flow. These adaptors are preset and can be installed on the mask to provide oxygen at a specific rate (e.g. 50% oxygen).

Nasal cannulas provide low flow and a lower concentration of oxygen. Cannulas deliver oxygen within a range. These are usually used in home health situations because of their ease of use.