A space to discuss all things related to pulmonary function testing! Equipment, predicted values, protocols, and challenges. I hope this will be a useful space for technicians, physicians, and others to "meet" and share information.
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Friday, July 16, 2010
Infant Lung Function Testing with the IPL
We have had an IPL here in Pittsburgh for ~3 years. Please use this space to share questions and answers about testing with the IPL.
Has anyone had the experience of babies putting their tongue up on the roof of their mouth, and it staying there? I've had this 2 or 3 times (I have a good picture of it from one occasion). didn't seem to change much with different positioning. This apparently caused an upper airway obstruction, and inflations were not particularly appreciated by the baby.
Has anyone else done this? We recently did 2 iPFTs on the same day (our first experience doing this) and when starting the 2nd study, didn't set the slider back from "Post" (bronchodilator) to "Pre". So...all our Pre- data was collected as Post-data. We didn't end up doing a true post, anyways, but apparently fixing this mess-up is time consuming (and nSpire quoted ~$200-$350 to fix it).
I did manage to view the raw data without problem, but the IPL wouldn't generate a proper report. I created this template for making my own report and think it looks pretty spiffy. I am happy for anyone else to use it; I won't personally guarantee that the equations are all right but I think they are (I took them from the Jones & Castile papers).
Another problem I've had on a few studies... today we have our first 3 efforts look very reproducible. The subsequent 6 or so efforts were all much smaller FVCs. Despite repositioning, we were unable to achieve the initial "best" efforts. This has happened a few times to us. Anyone else had this problem?
It seems that nSpire has discontinued the IPL from their product line. I am not sure what support (beyond parts) may still be available from them; my understanding is that Dave Filbrun is not any longer providing consultative support. I think this is worrisome for the future of IPL infant lung function testing!
Has anyone had problems with the Novametrix pulse ox? Recently ours went on the blink - probe still lighting up just fine, but monitor not recognizing it being connected.
We just were replacing the elbow adaptor for the bias flow, and our excellent RT decided to try a non-elbow adaptor. We used AirLife U/Adapt-it Straight Connector (Carefusion part# 004204). It was nice in that it helps take some of the tension/torque off of the block from the bias flow hose. Try it out!
Has anyone had the experience of babies putting their tongue up on the roof of their mouth, and it staying there? I've had this 2 or 3 times (I have a good picture of it from one occasion). didn't seem to change much with different positioning. This apparently caused an upper airway obstruction, and inflations were not particularly appreciated by the baby.
ReplyDeleteAll the time. I have had a case where I could not complete the test. The family said the infant always did that - very frustrating.
DeleteHas anyone else done this? We recently did 2 iPFTs on the same day (our first experience doing this) and when starting the 2nd study, didn't set the slider back from "Post" (bronchodilator) to "Pre". So...all our Pre- data was collected as Post-data. We didn't end up doing a true post, anyways, but apparently fixing this mess-up is time consuming (and nSpire quoted ~$200-$350 to fix it).
ReplyDeleteI did manage to view the raw data without problem, but the IPL wouldn't generate a proper report. I created this template for making my own report and think it looks pretty spiffy. I am happy for anyone else to use it; I won't personally guarantee that the equations are all right but I think they are (I took them from the Jones & Castile papers).
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/6199934/IPFT%20Template.xls
Another problem I've had on a few studies... today we have our first 3 efforts look very reproducible. The subsequent 6 or so efforts were all much smaller FVCs. Despite repositioning, we were unable to achieve the initial "best" efforts. This has happened a few times to us. Anyone else had this problem?
ReplyDeleteIt seems that nSpire has discontinued the IPL from their product line. I am not sure what support (beyond parts) may still be available from them; my understanding is that Dave Filbrun is not any longer providing consultative support. I think this is worrisome for the future of IPL infant lung function testing!
ReplyDeleteHas anyone had problems with the Novametrix pulse ox? Recently ours went on the blink - probe still lighting up just fine, but monitor not recognizing it being connected.
ReplyDeleteWe just were replacing the elbow adaptor for the bias flow, and our excellent RT decided to try a non-elbow adaptor. We used AirLife U/Adapt-it Straight Connector (Carefusion part# 004204). It was nice in that it helps take some of the tension/torque off of the block from the bias flow hose. Try it out!
ReplyDelete