Exhaled air dispersion during noninvasive ventilation via helmets and a total facemask.
BACKGROUND
Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) via helmet or total facemask is an option for managing patients with respiratory infections in respiratory failure. However, the risk of nosocomial infection is unknown.


METHODS
We examined exhaled air dispersion during NIV using a human patient simulator reclined at 45° in a negative pressure room with 12 air changes/h by two different helmets via a ventilator and a total facemask via a bilevel positive airway pressure device. Exhaled air was marked by intrapulmonary smoke particles, illuminated by laser light sheet, and captured by a video camera for data analysis. Significant exposure was defined as where there was ≥ 20% of normalized smoke concentration.


RESULTS
During NIV via a helmet with the simulator programmed in mild lung injury, exhaled air leaked through the neck-helmet interface with a radial distance of 150 to 230 mm when inspiratory positive airway pressure was increased from 12 to 20 cm H2O, respectively, while keeping the expiratory pressure at 10 cm H2O. During NIV via a helmet with air cushion around the neck, there was negligible air leakage. During NIV via a total facemask for mild lung injury, air leaked through the exhalation port to 618 and 812 mm when inspiratory pressure was increased from 10 to 18 cm H2O, respectively, with the expiratory pressure at 5 cm H2O.


CONCLUSIONS
A helmet with a good seal around the neck is needed to prevent nosocomial infection during NIV for patients with respiratory infections.
Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. Electronic address: dschui@cuhk.edu.hk.
David S
DS
Hui
Center for Housing Innovations, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
Benny K
BK
Chow
Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong; Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
Thomas
T
Lo
Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
Susanna S
SS
Ng
Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
Fanny W
FW
Ko
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
Tony
T
Gin
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
Matthew T V
MTV
Chan
D000388:Air / Q000032:analysis*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004867:Equipment Design; D045853:Exhalation; D006801:Humans; D008348:Manikins; D008397:Masks; D063087:Noninvasive Ventilation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*