External nasal dilator decreases N95 respirator-related respiratory effort and symptoms in gastrointestinal endoscopy unit staff

Bibliographic Details
Title: External nasal dilator decreases N95 respirator-related respiratory effort and symptoms in gastrointestinal endoscopy unit staff
Authors: Asif Khalid, Christopher Thomas, Michael Kingsley, Kishore Vipperla, Jeffrey Dueker, Christianna Kreiss, Anna Evans Phillips, Rohit Das, Kenneth Fasanella, James Ibinson
Source: Endoscopy International Open, Vol 10, Iss 09, Pp E1188-E1192 (2022)
Publisher Information: Georg Thieme Verlag KG, 2022.
Publication Year: 2022
Collection: LCC:Diseases of the digestive system. Gastroenterology
Subject Terms: Diseases of the digestive system. Gastroenterology, RC799-869
More Details: Background and study aims N95-filtering facepiece respirators (FFR) use is associated with physiological changes and symptoms due to impaired nasal airflow and increased breathing resistance. We prospectively studied the effect of using an external nasal dilator (END) in gastroenterology laboratory (gastrointestinal lab) staff using N95FFR. Patients and methods N95FFR qualitative saccharine fit testing was performed on study participants with and without an END. Prospective data collection and comparisons included: 1) survey of perceived symptoms and difficulty of performing one day of gastrointestinal procedures with N95FFR and 1 day of gastrointestinal procedures with END plus N95FFR in random sequence; and 2) vitals and respiratory belt plethysmography in ten gastroenterologists performing simulated colonoscopy while wearing a surgical mask (SM), N95FFR plus SM, END plus N95FFR plus SM for 20 minutes each in random sequence and rapid succession. Results Twenty-nine of 31 participants passed the N95FFR and the END plus N95FFR fit test. Twenty-two participants (12 physicians; 11 males; mean age 44.1 years, range 31–61) performed 1 day of gastrointestinal procedures with an N95FFR and 1 day of gastrointestinal procedures with an END plus N95FFR. Significantly less difficulty with nasal breathing and severity of symptoms including breathing difficulty, headache, fatigue and frustration, occurred while using an END plus N95FFR. Respiratory plethysmography peak-to-trough measurement showed an increase during the N95FFR stage compared to the END plus N95FFR stage and the SM stage. Conclusions N95FFR related respiratory changes and symptom development may be mitigated by END use.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2364-3722
2196-9736
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/2364-3722; https://doaj.org/toc/2196-9736
DOI: 10.1055/a-1896-4376
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/4bfad8d74dd2444ba9063fb14a7a5e1e
Accession Number: edsdoj.4bfad8d74dd2444ba9063fb14a7a5e1e
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:23643722
21969736
DOI:10.1055/a-1896-4376
Published in:Endoscopy International Open
Language:English