Respiratory Care Practices and Requirements for Respiratory Therapists in Beijing Intensive Care Units

Abstract

ICU respiratory care equipment and the knowledge to use them are insufficient. Important differences exist in respiratory care practice, which is mostly provided by nurses and physicians. RTs have been gradually recognized and accepted by ICU staff, while professional training and education are needed.

Mechanical Ventilation-Related Safety Incidents in General Care Wards and ICU Settings

“…Because there are no respiratory therapists in Japan, nurses were responsible for a greater proportion of care of mechanically ventilated patients, 18 and the same may apply for practice in other countries. Li et al 19 reported that variable clinical practices in ICU respiratory care exist and are provided mostly by nurses and physicians because of the lack of respiratory therapists. Experience-based knowledge was indicated by nurses as one of the categories of their sources of knowledge in practice.…”

Evaluation of a new chest physiotherapy technique in dogs with airway fluid accumulation hospitalized in an intensive care unit

“…CP can be defined as the external application of a combination of forces to increase expiratory flow with the goal to optimize mucus transport . CP in general, and PSE and AC in particular, is used in human infants and adults for the removal of retained airway secretions . This variety of techniques are designed to help improve the patient's respiratory strength, control the sensations of dyspnea, and to help improve gas exchange .…”

“…It is considered especially helpful for patients with large amounts of secretions or ineffective cough . Physiotherapy is commonly implemented in human intensive care units . CP has been reported to reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation, length of hospitalization, incidence of ventilator‐associated pneumonia, and risk of mortality in human ICU patients .…”

Survey of Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation in Intensive Care Units in Mainland China

“…14 It might be due to lack of trained multidisciplinary professionals, such as respiratory therapists, as shown in our previous study. 24 It is very important to identify the possibility of successful weaning in patients requiring PMV. Dermot Frengley et al 25 recently found that weaning success decreased with age, higher comorbidity burden, and more-severe illness, which was in agreement with our findings.…”