title: The Application of Biphasic Extrathoracic Cuirass-Assisted Ventilation in Normal Subjects Wearing Chemical-Biological-Radiological-Nuclear (CBRN) Gas Masks.
abstract: Mobile RTX (MRTX), a portable light-weighted ventilator, provides noninvasive respiratory support using biphasic extrathoracic cuirass-assisted ventilation. Despite the effectiveness of chemical-biological-radiological-nuclear (CBRN) gas masks, they cause respiratory loading as a result of added dead space and resistance. This prospective comparative pilot study was conducted to investigate the safety and efficacy of assisted ventilation provided by MRTX in healthy adult volunteers wearing CBRN gas masks at rest.
  
  
  
  Cardiorespiratory parameters were monitored in 11 healthy adult volunteers breathing spontaneously or with assisted ventilation provided by MRTX, freely or with the mask on. Comparisons were made by single-factor analysis of variance.
  
  
  
  AV significantly increased minute ventilation (p < 0.001). MRTX increased minute ventilation by 6.4 L/min (mean, 95% confidence interval: 3.1, 9.8; p < 0.005) and by 4.7 L/min (1.8, 7.5; p < 0.01) during spontaneous breathing and with the mask on, respectively. Simultaneously, end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure decreased by 3.6 mmHg (2.2, 5.1; p < 0.001) and by 6.5 mmHg (3.8, 9.1; p < 0.001).
  
  
  
  Biphasic extrathoracic cuirass assisted ventilation provided by MRTX is safe and effective in supporting adequate needs at rest even when wearing protective masks. MRTX should be further assessed as a possible adjunct to currently used field ventilation in CBRN scenarios.
authors.affiliation: Bikurofe Emergency Care Services, 90 Yigal Allon Street, Tel Aviv 6789130, Israel.
authors.forename: Ilan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gur
authors.affiliation: Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Protection Division, Israeli Ministry of Defense, 23 Kaplan Street, Hakirya, Tel Aviv 61909, Israel.
authors.forename: Arik
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eisenkraft
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, David Ben-Gurion Boulevard, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel.
authors.forename: Ephraim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bar-Yishay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D063087:Noninvasive Ventilation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D012134:Respiratory Protective Devices