Respiratory therapists can monitor a patient’s ongoing physiological processes through noninvasive and invasive procedures. Determining which type of procedure to utilize should be based on the importance of measurement accuracy 1. Pulse oximeters are devices that utilize spectrophotometry and photoplethysmograghy to measure arterial saturated oxygen and pulse rate noninvasively. Spectrophotmetry measures the amount of hemoglobin… Continue reading Noninvasive and Invasive Procedures in Respiratory Care

The gas laws help explain the changes in gas behavior, by looking at the relationship of the gas temperature, mass, volume, and pressure. Boyle’s law defines the inverse relationship between gas volume and absolute pressure when temperature is constant. As pressure increases, the volume decreases1,2. This relationship is necessary for the mechanics of breathing. When… Continue reading Gas Laws and Fluid Dynamics

There is a current trend to transition patients as soon as it is feasible from acute care settings to other settings, including home healthcare 1. Many home healthcare patients use some type of respiratory equipment including nasal cannulas, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), oxygen concentrators, and ventilators 2.  Respiratory equipment can be categorized as critical,… Continue reading Preventing Infection through Effective Communication