Oky Doky,OkyDoky wrote:In a PACU and there are many activities going on in the short amount of time a patient is there. The reason for a PACU is to monitor a patient until they are recovered from anesthesia (this means frequent awakings) and to be able to maintain their airway on their own. Unless it is contraindicated, the head of the bed will be elevated so you don't have to worry about a wedge pillow in an adjustable bed. I was always within a few feet from my patient's (no more than 2 at a time) where I could see and hear everything going on. Usually you are in the PACU from less than an hour to one and a half hours unless they are having a bed shortage but that's a different discussion. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9728843
As far as the training of staff on machines, you have to take into consideration the number of different brands and types of machines if every patient brought their own. The hospitals would probably pick one machine to train staff on and let the patient bring their mask.
From my perspective, and I've been a patient also, I don't see the benefit of CPAP in PACU,for most patients, since we don't want you to sleep for long periods in the limited amount of time you are in the PACU.
Now when you are in a room, ICU or regular floor, where you are going to be sleeping for longer periods, by all means your CPAP machine is appropiate.
But what if the patient does nod off? Do you seriously want patients with with sleep apnea blowing off anesthesia gases sleeping without the machine?
And what if you are called away to assist in an emergency? Then what? I remember a patient with sleep apnea died because of a similar type situation.
Hmm, and using the hospital machine also adds considerably to the hospital bill. And of course, let's not forget about patient comfort since most hospital machines are not up to date.
Thankfully, an anesthesiologist told me to bring my own machine and was quite adamant after I was told differently. But it is one more hassle for me to deal with in reconciling this issue.
Regarding the staff being able to use different machines, hmm, if there is a willingness to learn, there is a solution to the problem such as having the patient come in before the surgery to do a training session.
Anyway, thanks for sharing your perspective.