A COMPARISON OF 3 VARIABLE PERFORMANCE DEVICES FOR POSTOPERATIVE OXYGEN-THERAPY

Eleven patients in the intensive care unit following major abdominal s urgery with a nasogastric tube in situ and receiving oxygen via facema sk were allocated to receive in a random sequence oxygen at 41.min(-1) via a Hudson mask, nasal cannulae or a nasal catheter with foam colla r at the distal end. A significantly greater Pao(2) was achieved using both the nasal catheter with foam collar (p < 0.01) and Hudson mask ( p < 0.05) compared to the nasal cannulae. There were no significant di fferences in the Paco(2) or Spo(2) values obtained between the devices . In the majority of postoperative patients in whom a variable perform ance device is indicated, nasal devices appear preferable in terms of patient comfort and compliance. The nasal catheter with foam collar pr oduced a significantly greater Pao(2) than nasal cannulae in patients with a nasogastric tube in situ.