title: A comparison of three variable performance devices for postoperative oxygen therapy.
abstract: Eleven patients in the intensive care unit following major abdominal surgery with a nasogastric tube in situ and receiving oxygen via facemask were allocated to receive in a random sequence oxygen at 4 l.min-1 via a Hudson mask, nasal cannulae or a nasal catheter with foam collar at the distal end. A significantly greater PaO2 was achieved using both the nasal catheter with foam collar (p < 0.01) and Hudson mask (p < 0.05) compared to the nasal cannulae. There were no significant differences in the PaCO2 or SpO2 values obtained between the devices. In the majority of postoperative patients in whom a variable performance device is indicated, nasal devices appear preferable in terms of patient comfort and compliance. The nasal catheter with foam collar produced a significantly greater PaO2 than nasal cannulae in patients with a nasogastric tube in situ.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Kettering and District General Hospital, Northamptonshire.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: McBrien
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Sellers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal; D008297:Male; D008397:Masks; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010313:Partial Pressure; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen