Non Invasive Ventilation - Essay Example

"Non-Invasive Ventilation" is a worthy example of a paper on the respiratory system. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy was developed by Collin Sullivan. In an article touching its past and future, Collin describes how they managed to come up with the procedure in the laboratory in 1980. The development of the procedure and its commercialization is described. It is stated that non – invasive ventilation currently is used as the first major treatment for patients with respiratory failure (National Sleep Foundation, n.d.).

The question is who needs CPAP? The National Institute of Health answers this question appropriately. It states that a physician can suggest CPAP if one has obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea may be experienced by children. Surgery is commonly used as a form of treatment. However, if the condition is not treated, then CPAP can be used.            Treatment of breathing disorders utilizes a special CPAP device. Apart from treating obstructive sleep apnea, CPAP is also utilized in the treatment of preterm infants who have lungs that are not fully developed (National Health Institute, n.d.).

The National Health Institute goes on to describe the benefits of CPAP by noting that it enhances the survival chances of a preterm infant. It also states that want for other treatment forms and therapies is cut down. Wesley, Wayne, & Richards (2010), further describe the benefits of CPAP by noting that CPAP can be used in heart failure treatment as it produces Pressure which aids in the fluid movement back into the vascular system. It also utilized in the treatment of asthma and COPD. CPAP enhances the functioning of the respiratory system by reducing the breathing work a patient does, enhanced oxygenation, and decrease of airway collapse through immobilization of larger airways.

            According to Wesley, Wayne, & Richards (2010), CPAP is also used in the treatment of lower airway injuries like bronchorrea, noncardiogenic, and bronchospasm. What CPAP does is that it reduces the want for intubation, enhances oxygenation, and eases respiratory pain. In carbon monoxide poisoning, CPAP avails adequate oxygen that removes carbon monoxide. CPAP is generally advantageous in that it decreases mortality by doing away with intubation.

In spite of these benefits and uses, Weaver & Grunstein (2008), indicate that the efficiency of CPAP is hindered by variable observance to stipulated therapy. From their study, Weaver & Grunstein (2008), show that when the observance is characterized as more than 4 hours of use per night, then around 46 to 83% of obstructive sleep apnea patients’ are said not to adhere to the treatment. They go on to say that CPAP use for a time exceeding 6 hours reduces drowsiness, reinstates normal memory levels, and enhances daily functioning.

            Weaver & Grunstein (2008), describe CPAP adherence patterns by noting that minimal research has been done on increasing the utilization of positive pressure devices. They utilize technology such as smart cards to examine CPAP treatment adherence and find that the pattern of CPAP adherence is set up during week one of treatment. Patients who do not undertake treatment at night utilize CPAP to make use of CPAP for reduced periods.

This lack of CPAP use allows the recurrence of neurobehavioral shortfalls along with drowsiness during the day. The marital status, age, sex, and class do not have a bearing on whether patients adhere to CPAP treatment, nor does the severity of the disease. The researchers did not find a relationship between side effects and CPAP adherence, nor did psychological factors affect it. However, they noted that CPAP treatment adherence can be improved by the use of behavioral interventions.