Accuracy of a disposable compared to a non-disposable infant T-piece resuscitator

Abstract

Both disposable and non-disposable T-piece resuscitator (TPR) devices are used. Accuracy of the disposable and non-disposable infant TPR was compared. Peak inspiratory pressures (PIP) and positive end-expiratory pressures (PEEP) were measured during ventilation of a test lung. Measured PIP ±1cmH2O and PEEP ±0.5cmH2O of the desired pressures were considered acceptable. We tested the following: (A) Accuracy of setting pressures using built-in manometers of three disposable TPRs, (B) Minimal and maximal PIP and PEEP levels for the non-disposable and disposable TPR were measured using different gas flow rates, and (C) Accuracy of 25 caregivers setting pressures (PIP 25cmH2O and PEEP 5cmH2O). The results of the tests performed were as follows: (A) With pressures set: PIP 20, 25, 30, and 40cmH2O and PEEP 5-8cmH2O with 1cmH2O stepwise increment, measured PIPs and PEEPs were in acceptable range. (B) At gas flow rates 5, 8, 10, and 15L/min (disposable vs. non-disposable), min-max PIP were 4.0-43.2 vs. 2.9-77.1cmH2O and min-max PEEP were 0.3-22.3 and 0.6-59.7cmH2O. (C) Set PIP (cmH2O) by participants using disposable vs. non-disposable TPR was 25.8 (0.8) vs. 25.9 (1.3) (ns). PEEP was 5.4(0.5) vs. 4.7(0.5); p < 0.001. The accuracy of the disposable TPR is comparable to that of the non-disposable TPR.