Blogs

Is a Coronavirus Vaccine Necessary? Less than a week ago, the New York Times released an article citing scientific research demonstrating that natural immunity to the coronavirus may last decades (1). In July, an article in the Boston Globe cited the CDC and JAMA of Internal Medicine. They estimated the COVID cases are 6 - 24 times higher than the confirmed cases (2). Recently, the CDC estimated that 40% of people with COVID are asymptotic (3). On October, 13th it was reported by Forbes that only one individual has died of being reinfected with COVID. The individual was an 89 year old immunocompromised female from Holland (4). ...
Unplanned Extubations is this a safety concern for anyone else? I am looking to have a K-card for staff to use on a daily bases to try to decrease the number of unplanned extubations. Is anyone else doing this project??​

AARC Grant

AARC Grant​Hello Everyone, Just wondering if anyone has written a grant letter before with the topic of expanding education in your respiratory department? Would like any suggestions! Helen
What procedure are you using to clean the Crossvent 2 after a transport without a filter. If the mom was a r/o?

Ventilator PI

Looking for some new ideals on a Vent PI form. Does anyone have any forms they want to share?
Hello all, wanted to see how many institutions are considering any MDI/DPI/Inhaler therapy as an aerosol generating device for your COVID-19 patients. Would like to see what the community is doing as the question brought forth by IP as we place COVID-19 patients receiving aerosol generating therapies in negative pressure rooms. The issue is when we have a patient receiving LABA/LAMA/ICS daily or twice daily and thus requiring a negative pressure room. Due to the demand for the rooms it seems reasonable to not consider this a "continuous" aerosol generating device. I appreciate your thoughts and input. Thank you.

Latex Free EBUS balloon

Good Morning, Sometimes we have patients that have a latex allergy. I am looking for somewhere to purchase latex free balloons for EBUS. Any suggestions? No, not just give benadryl prior to procedure. Thank you, Anita

Zoom.com

Hello, My name is Quincy Futrell, I'm an assistant professor in a respiratory care program in Baton Rouge, La. The other professors and I are writing an article on RTs on the front line. I'm trying to find some credible sources to gather information from for our article. Can anyone help direct me in our research? Thanks Quincy Futrell, MRC, MPH, RRT
​We are acquiring the Hamilton T1 ventilator with programing for pediatrics. Is anyone using the High flow system with heat and if so how are you using it?​

PFT labs re-opening

Hi Everyone, Has anyone begun to strategically plan how to open their PFT lab once the "stay at home" order has been lifted. Some of my ideas are: 1. Staff and patient continue to wear mask as much as possible during test 2. Use of N-95 or surgical masks with good hand hygiene 3. Spacing patients times differently to maintain distance 4. Air purifiers with HEPA filters. Thoughts, ideas, suggestions... Trying to be pro-active. Because all lab are going to be very busy. Thank you for your time
Due to risk of community spread, ASA has recommended that all patients have airborne isolation PPE while undergoing intubation or extubation procedures regardless of COVID status. If you are using airborne isolation for all intubation procedures, are you then keeping the patient in isolation while on the ventilator if they are low risk for COVID? With community spread, what about patients that are on BiPAP or heated high flow who appear to be low risk?
Does anyone else noticed that it’s harder to blow off pCO2 of vented Covid patients? Many of these patients in the ICU have high rate (20-25) and high Vt (450-550) but their pCO2 are still in the 50s and 60s.
Those who hold leadership positions in the AARC I urge you to network with RT directors to give us accurate information. Currently, there are hundreds of rumors running around concerning the number of COVID patients on ventilators. These rumors generally go like this: “I have a friend or know a friend who is saying it is really, really bad.” I have not come across anyone giving concrete ventilator numbers by citing a respiratory care director in the front lines. I believe our AARC leadership should be contacting state societies and have them contact directors in cities that have high COVID patient counts to confirm actual numbers. These ventilator counts ...
Greetings to all First of all, let me give a virtual high five to our colleagues working in hospitals during this time. Please know our thoughts are with you. Now, to the meat of the question: I recently received an email from an advisor re: a “hard of hearing” student. At first glance, you might think this person CANNOT / COULD NOT possibly exist in our profession. Then I started looking at it as a person of science. After thinking about it, is there anything in the science that says this person cannot become an RRT? i have seen physicians in wheelchairs, with glases and hearing aids. They all performed as expected. Some questions: ...
In Northeast Ohio, we are accustomed to the influenza season. The precautions are the same. I am, however, concerned that the current pandemic crisis may put a strain on hospitals maintaining an adequate supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect the caregivers, visitors and other patients from patients carrying the infection.

Covid 19

Can anyone tell me what the best filter is to use on 840/980 ventilator for covid 19?

COVID 19

​Hello, How is everyone doing? Let's support each other.
What is everyone doing for PFT and Rehab at this time. Any literature to support recommendations.