Comparring Nebulizers

[rmklaus]

Hello To all, I have a question about nebulizers. Which ones do you use and why? I ask this question because for about 6 years I had been using the Passport machine with the Durable Side Stream nebulizers. About 3 weeks ago I decided to give Pari LC Plus a try with the ProNeb Ultra. I have been hearing that a lot of people have different opinions on this subject and I wanted to get some of your guys opinion. Thanks A Lot.....Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Melissa 30 w/CF and mrsa

 

[anonymous]

My niece has cystic fibrosis and I attempt to study the subject as often as possible. One area of study that I conducted - compressors and nebulizers.The sidestream nebulizer is excellent as well as the Pari nebulizers, but it is the proper nebulizer and compressor that are important. The cystic fibrosis foundation conducted a study of nebulizers and compressors at the University of Washington a few years back in which they stated that a person should find a nebulizer with pre-determined limits and then to purchase 2 or 3 other compressors to do the job.These are my thoughts based on my own studies. The sidestream nebulizer is very good, only wasteful. The Pari LC Star nebulizer is a breathe enhanced system, when you breath in a vent opens, allowing for air to enter the chamber, helping the nebulized medicine to flow better into the lungs. When you exhale the vent closes, causing pressure to build within the chamber, preventing the nebulized medicine from flowing into the chamber, decreasing waste. A small nozzle opens at the top of the nebulizer, which opens for your exhaled breath. Another important feature with the Pari LC Star nebulizer unit---78% of the particles are below 5 micrometers in size, 34% of the particles are below 2 micrometers in size. This is important because the smaller airways (alveolous sacs) are all below 2 micrometers in size, this is where the oxygen is placed into the blood stream and the place that virus' and bacteria prosper. By using a nebulizer that will get the medication to its location is important. The Pari LC Jet Plus pre-determined limits are 50% below 5 micrometers and 20% below 2 micrometers in size. A good example....Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria average between 0.5 - 3.0 micrometers in size.The compressor unit is very important. Hospital wall air is 50 psi (pounds per square inch), the Pari Proneb is only 23 psi when the nebulizer unit is attached. You need between 12 - 18 psi to breakdown Tobramycin so the nebulizer unit can work within the pre-determined limits. On the other hand "Pulmozyme" which is cold, thick and viscous, you need a nebulizer that can go up to 50 psi in pressure. Pulmozyme needs the compressor unit to have a constant pressure between 35 - 45 psi to properly breakdown the medication, so the nebulizer will function within it's pre-determined limits.Invacare Mobilaire 50 psi - is adjustable, meaning the pressure can be adjusted from 1 psi to 50 psi, based on the medication you are nebulizing at the time.Pari LC Star is the best in my opinion, but the Sidestream nebulizer could very well be the best for the adult if the adult inhales, holds their breath, while covering the hole so medication is not lost. If I were to make a choice it would be the Pari LC Star nebulizer and Mobilaire 50 psi compressor.If you should have any other questions, I will pay attention to this website.

 

[rmklaus]

Wow, you have studyed this. I guess I have never thought of the Pari LC Star. I use the LC Plus right now for only the proventils but now I am thinking about the LC Star. I never heard of the Mobilaire 50 psi compressor, I think I will check into that too. Thank you for your intense information on this subject. I didn't really like the sidestream because I felt that a 5 minute treatment wasn't very good I would rather go 10 minutes and get all the medicine then cut down the time and miss most of the medicine.I will be checking in to the LC Star and the Mobilaire 50 psi compressor... Do you have a web site for this machine? I would like to see the price and what it looks like and everything. I also wandered can you use the Pari's on the Mobilaire 50 psi compressor? Thank You Again, Melissa 30w/CF and mrsa

 

[anonymous]

Our cf center was part of the study and trials of Tobi and Pulmozyme and according to our cf Doc. The pari compressor or the pulmoaid are the only ones accepted for Tobi and Pulmozyme. We already had another compressor and the Doc wrote a new prescription for the pulmoaid. Our hospital uses the pulmoaid if it is needed in a room with no air. They do not like to mix the pulmozyme with oxygen. I personally prefer the pulmoaid to the pari. We alwalys use the pari lC or the hudson T nebulizers also. Genentech and Chiron (drug manufactures) also have literature on which compressors and nebulizers to use with the meds.

 

[anonymous]

You are absolutely accurate when you state that Chiron and Genentech have scientific clinical trial data to support nebulizer and compressor use with their medication. Understand though, they are not making any money by supporting one nebulizer or compressor over another, they make money on the medicine that they provide. When these manufacturers go into clinical trial, they choose a nebulizer and compressor that will benefit their medicine and work properly both in the United States and Europe, but if you notice they do not evaluate several different nebulizers and compressors when they go into clinical trials with their medications, this would not be cost effective.Genentech (Pulmozyme) support the use of the sidestream nebulizer and the Mobilaire 50 psi compressor among others, while Chiron (Tobramycin) supports the Pari LC Jet Nebulizer, but could have supported that Pari LC Star nebulizer, unfortunately the Pari LC Star was just being manufactured and distributed during the tobramycin trial.Chiron has wonderful information outside of their own tobramycin clinical trials on other nebulizers and compressors.Call your cystic fibrosis care center physician for more information and if they do not have the cystic fibrosis foundation study information from the University of Washington, then call the cystic fibrosis foundation or go to PubMed and enter "nebulizers and compressors".

 

[anonymous]

Hi my name is Robbie Cooper and i am doing a project for school on CF. I was just wondering if someone could leave me some info on what life is like with CF, and what it is like to have a family member who has CF. It would help alot, thanx

 

[anonymous]

Whats it like to Have CF? I can answer that in 1 word. HELL> having CF is Hell

 

[anonymous]

It isnt hell but yes, It does suck. It has made us who we are. and who we well become. I cant figure what to do with my life. Do I try to work? or Just sit on My ass.

 

[anonymous]

Robbie.....Life with CF is different for every patient. Myself, I am 31 and I still continue to play hockey and try to work-out on a regular basis, or as much as my lungs and body will allow. My doctor has always told me to try to keep that up because it can always be to my benefit. At 31, I have obviously noticed a significant change in my lung capacity and I seem to get winded a little easier, but it has not stopped me in attempting to do the things I have been doing since I was a child. My brother also has CF and has also been very active throughout his life. I still have to use a Nebulizer (to breathe in meds) every day and unless a cure comes soon, I will have to for the rest of my life. Unfortunately, not everyone can be as active as we are. I personally know a couple of people who have gone through double-lung transplants because their lung capacity was so low that they couldn't even walk up a flight of stairs without being winded. I'm not sure if this will help at all, but it's not exactly an easy and straight-forward answer to the question "What is life like with CF". For some, it is HELL. But for myself and for others, I must say that it does suck. But I try not to let it effect how I live my life or how I look at my future. Sometimes that is very difficult to do.

 

[Lois]

It is hell, but ony occasionally. If I'm very sick and I'm lying in a hospital bed with an IV and lung pains like something's chewing on me from the inside, yeah, it resembles hell very closely. But most of the time, life is bearable. For me. Each case is different and it depends on how severe your CF is. Mine was always mild to moderate, but in the last few years it became moderate to severe, as my health deteriorated. I've had my bad times, I've been close to dying twice in the last two years and I made it out of that condition. I guess it's life, just a sort of, different kind of life. Neither one of us knows any other life, you know? I may hate CF with all my guts, but I know no other life. I just try to make the most of it and so far, I'm doing good <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> The important thing is to not let it get in your way too much and not become sheltered. And it taught me a lot, having CF. It taught me to value the time I have, whatever quality of life I have, my friends [who have top put up with my sickness and the thought that in a few years, they'll need a new best friend], my lovers [same <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">]. And I keep telling myself, Lois, it could be worse. So I'm very grateful for what I have.