What the heck is going on? CHEST Ventilator Emergencies Workshop
“The ventilator alarms are going crazy!” This call by a frantic respiratory therapist summons clinicians to deal with a ventilator emergency at a CHEST (American College of Chest Physicians) course “Mechanical Ventilation: Advanced Critical Care Management,” co-chaired by Dr. Neil MacIntyre and John Davies both of Duke University Medical Center.

IngMar Medical took part in the hands-on workshop, “Ventilator Emergencies – ‘What the heck is going on?’”
Using the RespiPatient® manikin connected to a real ICU ventilator, four ventilator emergency situations were created:
- Spontaneous pneumothorax
- Acute bronchospasm
- Right mainstem intubation
- Flash pulmonary edema
Participants assessed patient history, ventilator waveforms, hemodynamic status (vital signs, x-rays, and ABGs), and conducted a physical exam of the patient (the RespiPatient® manikin) which included both bilateral and unilateral chest rise as well as breath sounds. Next the participants collaborated to create and implement a treatment plan for RespiPatient. Treatments administered included needle decompression, prescription of respiratory medication, airway management procedures, and adjustments to ventilator settings.

RespiPatient is a high fidelity manikin which is part of the RespiSim® System for ventilator management training. The RespiSim System provides all of the tools necessary to realistically assess and treat ventilated patients in a hands-on, simulated environment.
The course was held at Chest’s new Innovation, Simulation, and Training Center in Glenview, IL.