A capnography mask designed to monitor the level of end tidal CO2 in exhaled breath while delivering oxygen during post-operative recovery will be showcased at the Pediatric Anesthesiology Foundation’s Clinical Conference in California on 10-12 January 2020.
The Capnomask was developed by UK manufacturer Mediplus and is currently being evaluated at a number of centres in the USA. Developed with clinicians and anaesthesia experts, it provides a non-invasive method for accurate monitoring of the level of CO2 in exhaled breath to properly assess a patient’s breathing.
A 2011 study showed that, in extubated patients, continuous assessment of respiration with the Capnomask is more accurate than thoracic impedance pneumography even when supplemental oxygen is delivered at a high flow rate.
The Capnomask provides detection of conditions such as hypoventilation or airway obstruction. Respiratory monitoring is standard after anaesthesia and surgery; abnormal respiratory rate and volume is a sensitive indicator of respiratory problems, even in patients receiving supplemental oxygen.
The American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) states that continuous capnography should be used in all anaesthetised patients. The Capnomask dual connector is optimally positioned to achieve this. It accommodates for both mouth breathing and nasal breathing, enhancing the correct measurement of CO2 sample captured, minimising leakage and enhancing patient safety.
The mask is specially designed for patient comfort, using soft material impregnated with a vanilla scent, which is used in medicinal aromatherapy for a calming effect. This aims to provide an aid for reducing post-operative nausea and vomiting – a common complication following surgery and certain forms of anaesthesia.
This is one of the key features that makes the mask especially suited to children recovering from surgery, helping to reduce the risk of displacement by enhancing patient comfort, which in turn helps to speed up recovery.
James Urie, sales & marketing director at Mediplus said: “Children may already be anxious and frightened depending on the nature of their hospital stay, therefore anything put over their face can heighten this. The calming vanilla scent of our capnography mask helps to alleviate nausea and can prevent vomiting compared to the plastic or clinical smell of traditional masks. This greatly helps the clinician with patient concordance with respiratory monitoring because the mask is better tolerated.
“Additionally, the mask is a fully integrated set, complete with all the necessary parts – until now many departments had to buy components separately and assemble the equipment themselves, which proves more expensive, is not QC tested or reliable and takes time to put together and maintain.
“We look forward to showcasing how the unique features of Capnomask make it especially suited to the challenging demands of paediatric anaesthesiology."
The manufacturer is being supported with its US Strategy by the ABHI – a UK based trade association – and is part of the ABHI US Accelerator programme in partnership with Dell Medical School.
