News and Information for the community served by Huron Valley Ambulance |
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News and Information |
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| HURON VALLEY AMBULANCE | September 2, 2009 |
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| A Nonprofit Community Service | ||||
| HVA paramedics nows offer CPAP | ||||
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In the recent
past, when HVA paramedics treated patients with fluid build up in their
lungs from congestive heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (emphysema), they often had to insert a breathing tube into the
patient's airway (intubation). Intubation leads to being placed on a
respirator at the hospital and a longer hospital stay. Now, using a device known as CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), paramedics can provide oxygen with positive air pressure through a special mask over the patient's nose and mouth. This helps the patient breathe more effectively and avoid intubation. CPAP also helps to lower blood pressure and assists in removing fluids from the lungs. Home CPAP is often prescribed for people with sleep apnea because it pushes room air into people's lungs when they stop breathing during the night.
Our
paramedics are excited because CPAP for these patients is simple and
non-invasive. If patients know that they may not be intubated, they are
much more likely to call for help. CPAP is only a temporary fix —
patients still need to go to an emergency department to continue their
treatment.
However,
patients who are not intubated or put on ventilators have shorter
hospital stays, faster recovery times and lower treatment costs.
Sometimes, the patient can be discharged the same day!
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