When Resources Are Scarce - Feasibility of Emergency Ventilation of Two Patients With One Ventilator

Peter C. Reinacher; Thomas E. Schlaepfer; Martin A. Schick; Juergen Beck; Hartmut Buerkle; Stefan Schumann

During our study we found that it takes approximately five breaths until the ventilator shows new stable values for tidal volume and compliance. However, minute volume clearly required more breaths until a stable value was displayed. Thus it may be preferable to determine minute volume as the product of tidal volume and ventilation frequency to reduce the time of disconnection. Furthermore, to prevent oxygen desaturation of the disconnected patient, it may be recommendable to perform the pinch of the tracheal tube at the end of inspiration, when pressure is high. In summary, with the breathing frequency as set in our study and 5 to 6 breaths waiting time, the measurements of compliance and tidal volume would take about 20 s. The resulting burden of the patient would be comparable to or less than a recruitment maneuver.