Oxygen Delivery Devices 1. Flow is a variable describing the movement of a volume of gas over a period of time (L/min). 2. Concept to understand: Minute Ventilation (MV) = VT x RR and Peak Inspiratory Flow Rate (PIFR) is essentially how fast you draw your breath in, which will be influenced by your MV (if your RR t, your PIFR (flow rate) will also t). 3. Room air is 21% O2 and air from the wall/oxygen delivery device is 100% O2. 4. Oxygen delivery devices generally fall into two categories - variable and fixed - indicating how they are affected by the patient's flow rate / MV. Variable devices are affected, whereas fixed are theoretically not. 5. If your oxygen delivery device's flow rate does not meet the patient's peak inspiratory flow rate, as influenced by your MV, and/or you don't have an appropriate seal, then you will entrain room air. Entrained room air mixes with O2 from the wall resulting in an FiO2 between 21-100%. 6. Devices delivering high flow rates (HFNC) or with sealed systems (CPAP/BPAP/ventilator) deliver higher, more predictable FiO2 because they match or exceed the patient's flow rate and eliminate entrained room air. • Nasal Cannula (NC) • Oxymizer • Simple Facemask • Non-Rebreather (NRB) • Venturi Mask • High-Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) Dr. Meredith Greer @EmmGeezee #Oxygen #Delivery #Devices #Flow #Comparison #management #criticalcare
