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Design of oxygen delivery systems influences both effectiveness and comfort in adult volunteers

[Le modèle des systèmes de distribution d’oxygène influence l’efficacité et le confort chez des volontaires  adultes]

Hideaki Sasaki, MD, Michiaki Yamakage, MD PhD, Sohshi Iwasaki, MD, Masahito Mizuuchi, MD and Akiyoshi Namiki, MD PhD

From the Department of Anesthesiology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.

Address correspondence to: Dr. Michiaki Yamakage, Department of Anesthesiology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, South 1, West 16, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8543, Japan. Phone: 81-11-611-2111, ext. 3568; Fax: 81-11-631-9683; E-mail: yamakage@sapmed.ac.jp

Abstract:

Purpose: The aim of this investigation was to compare the efficiency of four oxygen delivery systems in healthy volunteers.

Methods: The subjects received oxygen at flow rates of 3.0 and 5.0 L/min-1 via a face  mask, nasal cannulae, and two kinds of new open- and microphone-type oxygen delivery systems (OxyArm™ and Mike Cannula) in a random sequence, and values of partial arterial pressures of oxygen (PaO2) were  measured. The comfort of these devices was also evaluated.

Results: A significant, oxygen flow dependent increase in PaO2 was obtained with all devices tested. PaO2 was significantly higher when the face mask was used [217.5 ± 19.9  (mean ± SD) mmHg at 5 L/min-1) than when the Mike Cannula was used (177.5 ± 14.8  mmHg). The face mask was the least comfortable and OxyArm was the most comfortable among the devices tested.

Conclusion: The results of our evaluation suggest that comfort and clinical performance should be considered when using oxygen delivery devices for patients who require oxygen  supplementation.

Introduction:

TREATMENT of respiratory insufficiency and postoperative hypoxemia most usually requires oxygen  supplementation. Oxygen can be administered to patients using a variety of face masks and nasal cannulae. It has been reported that there are no significant differences in partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) or oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry (SpO2) when using various  devices. Such devices deliver a variable inspired oxygen concentration (FIO2), especially in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or during the postoperative nocturnal period. Not only do some patients find face masks uncomfortable or claustrophobic, but these masks also hinder speech. While nasal cannulae lie in close proximity with the  nose, mouth breathing presents a problem. Recently, new minimal contact open oxygen delivery systems have become available for clinical use.

In this study, we compared the efficiency of four oxygen delivery systems in healthy  volunteers.

Data are expressed as means ± SD. All data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measurements, and Fisher’s test was used as a post hoc test. In all comparisons, P < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results:

The PaCO2 values when using each device ranged from 35.4 to 43.2 mmHg, and there was no significant difference in the values of PaCO2 between the devices or between different oxygen flow rates (data not shown). The PaO2 values obtained are shown in Figure 2. There was no significant difference in the PaO2 values between devices when breathing room air. PaO2 significantly increased in a flow-dependent manner for each device tested. ANOVA for repeated measurements revealed a significant difference between the PaO2 values obtained using each device. At oxygen flow rates of 3.0 L/min-1 and 5.0 L/min-1, the value of PaO2 obtained using the face mask was significantly higher than that obtained using the Mike Cannula.

With regard to comfort, the face mask was the least comfortable (56.8 ± 12.6) of the devices tested (36.7 ± 10.2 for nasal cannulae, 20.1 ± 5.6 for OxyArm, and 24.5 ± 7.9 for Mike Cannula, P = 0.04) at the oxygen flow rate of 3.0 L•min-1. When the oxygen flow rate was increased to 5.0 L•min-1, the OxyArm was the most comfortable (24.3 ± 6.5, P = 0.03), while the scores increased significantly with the nasal cannulae (54.2 ± 13.2) and Mike Cannula (43.2 ± 9.9) and remained the same with the face mask (58.3 ± 13.2).

Discussion:

The majority of postoperative patients do not require precise control of the concentration of oxygen administered, and the performance of currently available devices for delivery of oxygen is variable. The traditional face mask continues to be used widely for delivery of oxygen to patients. This study showed that, in healthy volunteers, a satisfactory increase in PaO2 was obtained by using all four oxygen delivery systems in an oxygen flow-dependent manner, without changes in PaCO2. In this study, the face mask was the best and the Mike Cannula the worst with respect to PaO2. Although the OxyArm is an open-type oxygen delivery system, it has a diffuser consisting of both a cup and pin to deliver a premixed and high concentration of oxygen to the mouth and nose,5. The technique for using the Mike Cannula is similar to that for using OxyArm; however, when the Mike Cannula is used, oxygen is blown directly to the face and the concentration of oxygen varies with inspired flow rate.

Patient compliance with the face mask is not good, largely due to the claustrophobic feeling generated and the necessity for its removal to speak comfortably. When the nasal cannulae or Mike Cannula are used, oxygen is blown directly to the mouth and/or nose, and discomfort becomes more marked when the oxygen flow rate is increased. The OxyArm had the best comfort score, independent of oxygen flow rate, presumably because of its oxygen premixing system. Furthermore, Nolan et al.6 reported that a face mask is often removed for routine nursing tasks and that patients are frequently hypoxemic during these periods. It is also quite conceivable that the open- and microphone-type oxygen delivery systems tested in this study would have to be removed from the mouth/nose less frequently than would the other two devices tested.

On the other hand, costs and benefits of the devices should be also taken into consideration.7 The face mask and nasal cannulae are the cheapest among the devices tested (Can$ 6.00 and 4.50, respectively). The price of the OxyArm (Can$ 18.80) is interesting with regard to oxygen delivery performance and comfort. The Mike Cannula is the most expensive (Can$ 150) because the non-disposable device was developed for home oxygen therapy. Therefore, the Mike Cannula seems to be inappropriate for routine postoperative oxygen supplementation.

The results of our evaluation suggest that comfort and clinical performance should be considered when using oxygen delivery devices for patients who need supplemental oxygen. Consideration must be also given to potential differences in performance between the healthy volunteers studied herein and patients in the clinical context.

Footnotes:

Supported in part by a grant-in-aid (2001) for clinical research from Sapporo Medical University for the Promotion of Science, Sapporo, Japan.

Accepted for publication May 1, 2003. Revision accepted September 3, 2003.

References:

• Jones JG, Jordan C, Scudder C, Rocke DA, Barrowcliffe M. Episodic postoperative oxygen desaturation: the value of added oxygen. J Roy Soc Med 1985; 78: 1019-22.[Abstract]
• McBrien ME, Sellers WF. A comparison of three variable performance devices for postoperative oxygen therapy. Anaesthesia 1995; 50: 136-8.[Medline]
• Fairfield JE, Goroszeniuk T, Tully AM, Adams AP. Oxygen delivery systems - a comparison of two devices. Anaesthesia 1991; 46: 135-8.[Medline]
• Nolan KM, Winyard JA, Goldhill DR. Comparison of nasal cannulae with face mask for oxygen administration to postoperative patients. Br J Anaesth 1993; 70: 440-2.[Abstract]
• Ling E, McDonald L, Dinesen TR, DuVall D. The OxyArm^TM - a new minimal contact oxygen delivery system for mouth or nose breathing. Can J Anesth 2002; 49: 297-301.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
• Nolan KM, Baxter MK, Winyard JA, Roulson CJ, Goldhill DR. Video surveillance of oxygen administration by mask in postoperative patients. Br J Anaesth 1992; 69: 194-6.[Abstract]
• Woda RP, Dzwonczyk R, Beckmeyer W, Fuhrman T. Cost-benefit analysis of nasal cannulae in non-tracheally intubated subjects. Anesth Analg 1996; 82: 506-10.[Abstract]

Source: Canadian Journal of Anesthesia 50:1052-1055 (2003)
© Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society, 2003
Cardiothoracic Anesthesia, Respiration and Airway