| Obstruction of Ventilator Exhalational Valve due to High Moisture Content in compressed Air - A case report. |
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Jin Su Kim, Young Seok Lee, Soo Yeun Kim, Myung Hee Kim, Jong Rae Kim |
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Department of Anesthesiology, Yongdong Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. |
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| Abstract |
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An air-compressor system takes atmospheric air, and filters, pressurises and dries it, before delivering it to the pipeline as a medical air. Because the air supplied by the air compressor may be used to wentilate patients or to drive surgical tools, its quality and purity must be carefully controlled. Atmospheric air contains a variable amount of water vapour but always more than is specified for medical air. Water vapour must be removed from medical air since it can damage surgical tools and some ventilators and can condense in low-lying parts of the pipeline system. Reeently we have had experience of pneumothorax by pulmonary barotrauma associated with obstruction of the ventilator exhalational valve. As a result of investigating the possible causes, we concluded the cause as high moisture content in the compressed air due to the malfunctioning air drier and filters. Therefore we submit this case report along with discussion and literature reviews. |
| Key Words:
Ventilator; Air compressor |
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