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Chapter 21 - Respiratory Therapy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 May 2025

By
Donatha Hornemann ,
Regina Lomako  and
Martin Groß
Edited by
Martin Groß ,
Eelco F. M. Wijdicks ,
Maxwell S. Damian  and
Oliver Summ
Martin Groß
Affiliation:
MEDIAN Clinic Bad Tennstedt
Eelco F. M. Wijdicks
Affiliation:
Mayo Clinic
Maxwell S. Damian
Affiliation:
Basildon University Hospitals
Oliver Summ
Affiliation:
Evangelisches Krankenhaus Oldenburg
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Summary

This chapter discusses respiratory therapy, an essential part in the care of patients with respiratory impairment, for example, on the ICU, and the role of respiratory therapists. Respiratory therapy covers diseases of the airway, lungs and the respiratory muscle pump, including respiratory diagnostics, non-invasive and invasive ventilation, management of secretions, nebulization, oxygen therapy and other drug and non-drug therapies. While respiratory therapists originated in pneumology about 70 years ago, their field of activity extended to a variety of medical disciplines as neurology, pediatrics, critical care medicine and sleep medicine. Respiratory therapists coordinate and monitor patient care and equipment, perform advanced respiratory care, evaluate the treatment and educate teams, patients and family caregivers. They consult in all topics of ventilatory support, including technical aspects of mechanical ventilation, ventilation strategies, airway management and pharmacotherapy, especially nebulized therapy, and they are involved in research.

Keywords

respiratory therapyrespiratory therapistmechanical ventilationoxygen therapysleep medicineventilatory supporthome ventilation

Information

Type
Chapter
Information
Clinical Neurorespiratory Medicine , pp. 282 - 291
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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