TRANSPAC VENTILATOR IN AEROMEDICAL
EVACUATION
As a medical practitioner specialising in civilian aero-medical
evacuation, I am called upon to move ventilator dependent
patients, and I have used several types of transport ventilators
(Oxylog, Logic, Bear, pneuPac and TransPac), but I have finally
chosen to use the latter two exclusively.
The requirements for a transport ventilator in the civilian
aero-medical evacuation environment are:
portability (volume small, weight low, shape compact)
self-contained power supply (not needing access to
Ring Main Voltage or compressed gas circuit)
extreme reliability (mechanically and/or electrically
simple as no back-up available)
ruggedness (resists knocks, blows, being dropped)
no broadcast effects on avionics
ability to withstand explosive decompression
The pac series of ventilators are modular, with simple but
reliable mechanical linkages. They are light, can be slung over
the shoulder in the customised carry-case (which takes a D
cylinder as compressed gas source) and can provide settings to
safely volume-cycle ventilate a wide range of patients. They
allow over-pressure venting above pre-set values (unlike some
rivals) and they produce accurately metered gas volumes.
They withstand considerable abuse, with no evidence of the
controls freezing or altered calibration. They are tolerant of
cabin pressure altitudes up to 10,000 feet (in my experience,
which does not include loss of cabin altitude, yet) and are
electrically neutral to cabin avionics.
I have ventilated patients on long haul trips, for example from
upper Egypt to Ireland ( 14 hours) and from Lagos, Nigeria to
London, England (10 hours). They have worked in ambient
temperatures of 46 C and in 100% humidity.
I find the peripherals, such as connectors, hoses, non-return
valves to be well chosen and safe, and accessories such as the
Venturi-driven aspirator effective.
I cite the above from personal experience over the last four
years, mainly with the TransPac ventilator.
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