The use of the Penlon Nuffield 200 in a monoplace hyperbaric oxygen chamber. An evaluation of its use and a clinical report in two patients requiring ventilation for carbon monoxide poisoning.

What Researchers Did

Researchers modified a Penlon Nuffield 200 ventilator for use in a monoplace hyperbaric oxygen chamber and evaluated its performance in laboratory tests and two patients with carbon monoxide poisoning.

What They Found

The modified ventilator delivered adequate tidal volumes at pressures up to 3 atmospheres by feeding back chamber pressure to its reducing valve. While compensation was not complete, the modification proved adequate for short-term clinical use in two patients requiring ventilation during hyperbaric oxygen therapy for carbon monoxide poisoning.

What This Means for Canadian Patients

This research suggests that specific ventilator modifications can enable safe ventilation for Canadian patients requiring hyperbaric oxygen therapy in monoplace chambers. This could be particularly relevant for patients with compromised airways needing short-term hyperbaric treatment for conditions like carbon monoxide poisoning.

Canadian Relevance

This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was not conducted in Canada nor involved Canadian researchers or patients.

Study Limitations

The study was limited by incomplete ventilator compensation, its evaluation being restricted to short-term clinical use, and a very small patient sample size.