VORTRAN
®
Medical
5/26/2017
VORTRAN
®
GO
2
VENT™ User’s Guide
Page 15
VI. FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) (continued)
Question Answer
7. Does the
GO
2
VENT™ work
with a mask or an
endotracheal tube
(Combitube
®
Dual
Lumen Airway)?
The GO
2
VENT™ works well with most endotracheal tubes or
masks. When the GO
2
VENT™ is used with a mask, clinicians
must have proper training to be aware of the increased
mortality associated with aspiration when vomitus occurs. If
there is a small leak around the mask, the GO
2
VENT™will still
cycle between PIP and PEEP, but inspiratory times will increase
and expiratory times will decrease. In the event of a larger leak,
the GO
2
VENT™ will stop cycling because it cannot compensate
for the leak.
8. What is the
sensitivity or
pressure drop
required to trigger
the GO
2
VENT™
into inhalation?
The GO
2
VENT™ is pressure cycled on PIP and PEEP. Therefore,
as soon as the patient’s pressure drops to PEEP, inhalation will
start whether this occurs because exhalation has been
completed or the patient draws a breath. Compared to time
cycled ventilators, the sensitivity would be zero in the pressure
control mode. In the pressure support mode, the sensitivity
may be set as light as 1 cm H2O or less; therefore, the patient’s
work of breathing will be minimal. If greater effort by the
patient is desired, it may be increased by turning the rate dial
clockwise. Be sure to use a manometer when performing this
procedure.
9. When adjusting
the rate dial on
the GO
2
VENT™, it
sometimes stops
cycling. What is
happening?
The GO
2
VENT™ rate dial controls rate by controlling the
exhalation time. Once the PIP and inspiratory flow (L/min) have
been set, inspiratory time is also set. The only way to control
respiratory rate is by controlling the exhalation time. In the
pressure control mode, this is done with the rate dial which is
actually a variable flow resistor. Depending on the patient and
flow conditions used, it is possible to set the rate dial so that
the continuous flow of gas always creates more pressure across
the variable flow resistance than what the modulator is set to
cycle at for PEEP. This means the GO
2
VENT™
is currently in the
pressure support mode. In this condition, the patient’s airway
pressure will remain slightly above set PEEP just as in a variable
resistance PEEP valve and the GO
2
VENT™
will not cycle. When
pressure control is the mode of ventilation (which is required),
the situation is easily corrected by dialing out the rate dial
(counterclockwise) until the it
starts cycling, thus reducing the
variable resistance so the patient’s pressure is allowed to drop
below PEEP and cycle the modulator automatically. In the
pressure support mode, it is the patient who initiates inhalation
by drawing the baseline pressure down to the set PEEP value.
Therefore, if it
is not cycling, chances are the patient is not
spontaneously breathing or the rate dial has been adjusted too
far down, creating a baseline pressure which is too high above
the set PEEP value for the patient to be able to initiate inhalation
(the sensitivity is too high). In either event, turn the rate dial
counterclockwise until the sensitivity is low enough for the
patient to trigger inhalation. Otherwise the GO
2
VENT™ will go
into the pressure control mode.
