Why are venturi masks used?

The most essential component in the treatment of patients suffering from acute hypoxemia is to deliver enough supplemental oxygen. While a lot of options are available to deliver the required proportion of oxygen, the easiest and the least invasive is the simple use of a face mask or Venturi mask.

 

For as long as fifty years, there has been a trend of using these kinds of masks for patients all over the world. Tracing back to its origin, it was initially developed to be used as a simple oxygen delivering system. However with time these face masks have evolved in its complexity and efficacy in an attempt to provide maximal patient benefit.

 

To deliver controlled percentages of oxygen

Typically used in the hospital setting to deliver controlled percentages of oxygen, background Venturi masks are important for those who are at a risk of hypercapnic respiratory failure and to properly assess ventilation as well as gas exchange. In addition to this, hospital oxygen supplies deliver high velocity and pressure, both of which are needed for Venturi masks to operate as designed. In fact, home oxygen is commonly delivered through concentrators, which actually work at lower pressures and this may in fact, impact the performance of Venturi masks in case they are requested for home use.

 

High fresh gas flow rate

Giovanni Venturi's principle of increased gas velocity was incorporated by Campbell to develop oxygen delivering facemask, which clearly represents the standard of supplemental oxygen face masks of today. These masks are low-flow masks that use the Bernoulli principle to entrain room air when pure oxygen is delivered through a small orifice.

 

These masks not only allow high fresh gas flow rate, but are also designed to rapidly flush the exhaled gases out through its holes. This is beneficial for the patient as  there is no rebreathing and no increase in dead space.

 

To deliver a fixed oxygen concentration

Venturi masks are hence highly recommended during times when a fixed oxygen concentration is desired in patients whose ventilation is dependent on the hypoxic drive. In addition to this, if you're looking for a disposable surgical mask online or any other medical supplies, your search ends at Smart Medical Buyer - one of the most trusted online medical stores.

 

Designed both for adults as well as paediatric use, these masks are coupled with a reservoir tubing which is then attached to a supraglottic airway device as part of a T-piece breathing system. To sum it up, Venturi masks are an ideal option for patients who have a low to moderate oxygen requirement but are at risk of hypercarbia.