Medizinische Universität Graz - Research portal
Selected Publication:
Krall, M.
Intensive care of COVID-19 patients: Importance of 3D-printing for the development of emergency respirators
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit ] Medical University of Graz; 2021. pp. 83
[OPEN ACCESS]
FullText
- Authors Med Uni Graz:
- Krall Marcell
- Advisor:
- Schäfer Ute
- Wegscheider Thomas
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- At the beginning of April 2020, around 200 countries were struggling with the effects of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. Many of them reported that intensive care units (ICU) had reached their capacities. Caring systems were initiated, and with help of military, emergency hospitals were installed for example in Italy. At this point in time, the pandemic had also arrived in Austria with over 13,000 people infected with SARS-CoV-2. These considerations led the company HAGE-Sondermaschinenbau GmbH & Co KG to take the initiative, together with the Medical University of Graz, to develop an emergency respirator for temporary use. This was contrived by using 3D-printet components. The aim of this study was to create a suitable test set-up for the evaluation of an emergency respirator. The verification of adequate ventilation of a large animal (pig) should be tested on the basis of a pilot study. As part of an iterative development process, a continuous adaption of the prototype was strived. This was based on the results of the experiments. In the first two experiments, tidal volumes (TV) of <480 ml were achieved. Maximum inspiration pressure and PEEP could not be maintained. Level of pCO2 increased to a maximum of 64 mmHg. As a result of learning- and iterative process, the components could be adapted. Sufficient ventilation measured on our criteria for duration of 30 minutes was feasible in the third experiment. Maintaining adequate TV > 800ml by a weight of 93kg was possible. The oxygenation was stabilized. The pCO2 level of 47mmHg decreased to a level of 43mmHg. The oxygen saturation was almost 100%, by a FiO2 of 35%. The results showed that it is basically possible to ventilate a pig under physiological conditions with a controlled ventilation mode for duration of 30 minutes. We were able to show maintenance of a stable oxygenation and metabolic situation. If special weaning procedures can be implemented in further development and long-term use can be tested in further studies, the author concludes, that a temporary ventilation of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 could be possible. However, this should only be done under emergency circumstances where all other resources have already been exhausted and a triage system has been installed.