Postoperative and post-traumatic atelectasis often results in pneumonia and arterial hypoxemia. In an effort to avoid these pulmonary complications, we developed a lightweight, portable, oxygen-powered device to deliver continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). The device can deliver both 30 per cent inspired oxygen and clinically applicable levels of CPAP for a diverse group of hospital patients. The simplicity and functional characteristics of the device allow CPAP to be administered more readily and more effectively than previous devices could allow.
DownsJB, KleinEFJr, ModellJH. The effect of incremental PEEP on PaO2 in patients with respiratory failure. Anesth Analg1973;52:210–214.
2.
DouglasME, DownsJB, DannemillerFJ, HodgesMR, MunsonES. Change in pulmonary venous admixture with varying inspired oxygen. Anesth Analg1976;55:688–695.
3.
SuterPM, FairleyHB, SchlobohmRM. Shunt, lung volume and perfusion during short periods of ventilation with oxygen. Anesthesiology1975;43:617–627.
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PaulWL, DownsJB, ChapmanRL. Postoperative atelectasis: IPPB, incentive spirometry and face-mask PEEP. Abstracts of Scientific Papers. 1976 ASA Annual Meeting. Park Ridge IL: American Society of Anesthesiologists, 1976:319–320.
