Respiratory Therapy

Respiratory infections constitute a major public health concern. The goal of this book is to share knowledge on the best advances in influenza and influenza-like viral infections, and new molecular-based diagnostic methods that discern the antigenic shift providing viruses the ability to constantly evolve and elude the host immune response. Co-infections, co-morbidities, persistently meager anti-flu vaccination coverage, and infection complications are dealt with. The chapters also further insight into such topics as the effect of sex hormones, and socioeconomic and anthropometric measures, on respiratory and immune functions underlying the severity of asthma and respiratory allergy.

This book is an important new resource for clinicians caring for ventilator dependent children, who often have complex health care needs, are supported by advanced technology and are at high-risk of serious complications. Despite the complicated health care needs of children who rely on chronic respiratory support, there are few guidelines and little evidence available to guide the clinicians who care for these patients. This book covers the many aspects involved in the care of these complex children, with input from experts in the fields of pediatric pulmonology, intensive care, ethics, respiratory therapy, and nursing. In depth chapters provide an introduction to the use of chronic invasive and non-invasive ventilation in children and describe and review what is known about methods of delivering ventilator support, care of the chronically ventilated patient in the community , use of chronic ventilator support in patients with disorders commonly leading to respiratory failure and outcomes for patients and their caregivers. This book is intended to be useful not only for pediatric pulmonologists, but also for intensivists, cardiologists, physical medicine/rehabilitation specialists, nurses, respiratory therapists and the primary care physicians involved in the complexities of managing care for this unique group of special needs children.

This comprehensive resource brings together the most current theories, evidence and best practice parameters for the use of nocturnal non-invasive ventilation (nNIV). Chapters focus on the application of acute and chronic nNIV in patients with cardio-respiratory disorders over a range of major medical settings. Updates on past and recent research in this field are highlighted. Authored by leading clinicians and investigators, Nocturnal Non-Invasive Ventilation provides practical and cutting-edge knowledge to physicians, researchers and allied health professionals on the front lines of treating cardio-respiratory and sleep disorders.

This book is a practical and easily understandable guide for mechanical ventilation. With a focus on the basics, this text begins with a detailed account of the mechanisms of spontaneous breathing as a reference point to then describe how a ventilator actually works and how to effectively use it in practice. The text then details: the various modes of ventilation commonly used in clinical practice; patient-ventilator interactions and dyssynchrony; how to approach a patient on the ventilator with respiratory decompensation; the optimal ventilator management for common disease states like acute respiratory distress syndrome and obstructive lung disease; the process of ventilator weaning; and hemodynamic effects of mechanical ventilation. Written for medical students, residents, and practicing physicians in a variety of different specialties (including internal medicine, critical care, surgery and anesthesiology), this book will instruct readers on how to effectively manage a ventilator, as well as explain the underlying interactions between it and the critically ill patient.