Accuracy of a disposable compared to a non-disposable infant T-piece resuscitator

Both disposable and non-disposable T-piece resuscitator (TPR) devices are used. Accuracy of the disposable and non-disposable infant TPR was compared. Peak inspiratory pressures (PIP) and positive end-expiratory pressures (PEEP) were measured during ventilation of a test lung. Measured PIP +/-1 cmH2O and PEEP +/-0.5 cmH2O of the desired pressures were considered acceptable. We tested the following: (A) Accuracy of setting pressures using built-in manometers of three disposable TPRs, (B) Minimal and maximal PIP and PEEP levels for the non-disposable and disposable TPR were measured using different gas flow rates, and (C) Accuracy of 25 caregivers setting pressures (PIP 25 cmH2O and PEEP 5 cmH2O). The results of the tests performed were as follows: (A) With pressures set: PIP 20, 25, 30, and 40 cmH2O and PEEP 5-8 cmH2O with 1 cmH2O stepwise increment, measured PIPs and PEEPs were in acceptable range. (B) At gas flow rates 5, 8, 10, and 15 L/min (disposable vs. non-disposable), min-max PIP were 4.0-43.2 vs. 2.9-77.1 cmH2O and min-max PEEP were 0.3-22.3 and 0.6-59.7 cmH2O. (C) Set PIP (cmH2O) by participants using disposable vs. non-disposable TPR was 25.8 (0.8) vs. 25.9 (1.3) (ns). PEEP was 5.4(0.5) vs. 4.7(0.5); p <0.001. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of the disposable TPR is comparable to that of the non-disposable TPR.