Vapotherm pulled by CDC???

Gompers, BSN, RN · Jan 16, 2006

Our Vapotherm was pulled a couple of weeks ago for the potential staph problem also. We had no problems with it in our NICU and used it a lot, it worked amazingly well, it was almost like a miracle treatment (surfactant comes to mind in the same category...) we certainly hope it will be back, NCPAP isn't nearly as effective or easy to manage in our experience!

I wasn't a nurse yet when surfactant came along - but from what I hear, the experiened nurses on our unit are thinking the same thing. Our acuity is just getting lower and lower, it seems. We're a level III, and sometimes we'll have, say, 40 patients, with only 5 intubated and 20 on Vapotherm! We're seeing less BPD as well - much fewer kids getting Decadron because we're extubating before there is much damage. In the past two years, we've only had one baby trached for BPD, and that was a former 23-weeker. Very cool invention. The Fisher Packel version seems to be working okay in the meantime. Anything but CPAP!

MsJessikia · Jan 17, 2006

I read the letter that our attending recieved from the company. They did a recall of the machines because a few hospitals found some bugs in them... starts with an R...Wish I could remember the name!!!!!

So they are looking for ways to sterilize them but Im sure it will probably end in bancruptcy I hope not, I love it!!

Gompers, BSN, RN · Jan 17, 2006

I read the letter that our attending recieved from the company. They did a recall of the machines because a few hospitals found some bugs in them... starts with an R...Wish I could remember the name!!!!!
So they are looking for ways to sterilize them but Im sure it will probably end in bancruptcy I hope not, I love it!!

Ralstonia ssp.

There is a press-release on their official website.

http://www.vtherm.com/about/news.asp?id=62

barb34 · Jan 24, 2006

Our unit was absolutely against it and we never used it, the nurses were devastated since our sister hospital was using it and gave rave reviews, but the other night i saw that we have rigged our own set-up and we are capable of breaking it down and sterilizing it, also I think we don't use as much heat. Anyway we like the new set-up and hopefully we will see more popping up.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Jan 24, 2006

Our unit was absolutely against it and we never used it, the nurses were devastated since our sister hospital was using it and gave rave reviews, but the other night i saw that we have rigged our own set-up and we are capable of breaking it down and sterilizing it, also I think we don't use as much heat. Anyway we like the new set-up and hopefully we will see more popping up.

The heat is partly what makes it work so well. It's easier to breathe warm air than cold air. We now use the Fisher Paykel version, and it's even warmer than the Vapotherm. This system uses an inflatable cuff to force sterile water through a heater, and this is vaporized into tubing that is connected to the wall air and oxygen ports. We still like Vapotherm better, but until their sterilization situation improves, we are happy to have a very similar product.

Why was your unit "absolutely" against it? It's wonderful!

barb34 · Jan 24, 2006

They were worried about infection, they were just concerned about how we were going to sterilize the setup. I have never seen it personally so I don't know what they are talking about. But this other set-up we are using seems similar to the vapo-therm or the one you mentioned. We are just so happy to have an alternative to CPAP. Now if we can just get rid of the nasal rated CPAP and that "hug n' snug"

tracy6fan · Mar 31, 2006

After the Vapotherm was pulled here, someone in RT management jerryrigged a "high flow" cannula together with a concha heater to use in place of it. Some docs will use it, some won't. It was cleared for use by biomed and risk management, however some of the RTs and nurses are still uncomfortable. Just last week, a baby practically drowned from water spewing out of it. Anybody else using a makeshift Vapotherm?

One of the therapists told us yesterday the Vapotherm may be back in a couple of weeks. Anybody else heard this?

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Mar 31, 2006

We are using a rigged-up high flow NC with a heater. I know I have seen these used on kids with flows up to 3-4L/min and I think I heard we are using them with flows up to 6L/min. I does tend to shoot water up to the kid. Fortunately it's usually when a nurse is providing care and she can suction it out but obvioulsy not a very ideal situation.

I haven't heard anything about Vapotherm coming back but I would SO welcome it back. We loved it where I work.

Mimi2RN, ASN, RN · Apr 4, 2006

I recently heard from an RT that it was related to the water used in the system. We always used sterile water, but some places used tap water, and that was the cause of the problem. It was really an odd colonization, anyway.

Hope it comes back soon!