ETOH neb treatments?

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2005

Yes, please do find out more. Id like to hear the rational myself.

Thinking about a rational the only thing i could possibly consider would be the displacement of fluid(phlem) in the lungs, moving it closer to the bronchioles to better be coughed out. Although it sounds a little off to me. Then the ETOH would be evaporated from the lower lung fields? I dont know, but i havent ever seen it done.

HawaiiRRTRN · Sep 10, 2005

MissJo,

Way back when (1990) while in Respiratory Therapy school we were taught about giving nebulized ETOH to patients in pulmonary edema, usually with an IPPB (Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing) nebulizer treatment. The theory behind this therapy was that ETOH will reduce the surface tension of the fluid, resulting in the reduction of resistance in the alveoli making gas exchange easier. The side effects of such therapy of course included the possibility of intoxication since the ETOH was delivered directly to the bloodstream via the alveoli. Needless to say this is a serious side effect and probably outweighs the benefit. Lasix works so much better and without the hangover!

In my 13 years as an RT I have never given an ETOH IPPB neb tx to a patient nor have I ever worked in a place that did. Our teacher also said she had not seen this therapy used in many years and that was back in the early 90's.

Although an antiquated form of therapy, it has been done before. Is it beneficial? I wouldn't know since I've never done it but to me it seems the risks outweigh the benefits and there are safer ways (Lasix) to achieve the same results.

Hope this helps,

HawaiiRRTRN

Can any one explain to me a little about ETOH neb tx? A google search came up with absolutely nothing except some bars and individuals using it a new trendy high (what next...) But I'm asking about ETOH included or given alone as a part of respiratory therapy in a hospital as ordered by an MD. I had never heard of such a thing but saw it ordered on a pt (actually more than one) last night. I was all set (mentally) to give a neb to another RN's pt while she was off the floor, but this was out of my range of comfort. Asking the RN gave me little info, looking it up in the P&P manual gave only a little more.
Why? (the manual mentioned frothy pulmonry edema (I think) with the patho of ...something...and essentially "popping" air bubbles)
Any contraindications?
Side effects? a "high"? others?
Anything else to know?
I imagine that there is some fancy expesive neb treatment I've already seen in passing that is essentially the same as an ETOH neb...
BTW, this is at a hospital I'm filling in at temporarily...I'm not really sure who the "respiratory expert" is here, although I plan to find out more this afternoon.

TYGGER · Sep 11, 2005

I have heard there are bars starting this in Europe, but could not find the article I read it in. Couple of articles on google about inhaled Alcohol. http://www.gizmag.com/go/2633/

not that I would try it...think about A little Tequila neb.

TYGGER · Sep 11, 2005

Here is another link.

http://www.awolspirit.com/

MissJoRN, RN · Sep 11, 2005

Here is another link.
http://www.awolspirit.com/

Yeah... that's the one I saw :rolleyes:

Not exactly helpful info when I'm seeing a junky, dyspneic octgenarian is it?! (no, I'm not picking on you!!)

The most info I could get out of the seasoned nurses on this unit is "it works" and "opens them up"

Hawaii, thank you so much for your info!! The indication and pharmocolgy was similar to what I read (them forgot!) The IPPB was mentioned in the P&P but not as a necessary part of the procedure... it was not used for this pt.

I'll still hope it's not ordered for one of my pts as it doesn't seem very evidence based to me! I believe this pt is also recieving prn codiene! More responsibilty than I want in an elderly pt :eek:

RTmike · Aug 8, 2009

i am a older respiratory therapist and have worked in and around southern ca for some time. back in the 70's (before my time) dr. bird, the creator of early ventilators, set up large communal type clinics for old smokers in the palm springs area. there would be 20 or more easy chairs with bird ippb machines next to each one. (bird ippb machines were kind of like forced nebulizer treatments.) the old smoker would drive up in his or her cadillac and be given a treatment with 100proof etoh. old smokers lungs tend to be leaky and old smoker’s tend to have a week hearts. this all leads to chf. the etoh would break the surface tension of the frothy bubbles and allow the old smoker to breathe a bit easier. the old smoker would then wonder off the the land yacht, light up the old lucky strikes and maybe make it home. why this is a good idea in the 2000’s, i have no idea. thank you for letting me respond.

MedSurgeMess · Aug 8, 2009

i am a older respiratory therapist and have worked in and around southern ca for some time. back in the 70's (before my time) dr. bird, the creator of early ventilators, set up large communal type clinics for old smokers in the palm springs area. there would be 20 or more easy chairs with bird ippb machines next to each one. (bird ippb machines were kind of like forced nebulizer treatments.) the old smoker would drive up in his or her cadillac and be given a treatment with 100proof etoh. old smokers lungs tend to be leaky and old smoker's tend to have a week hearts. this all leads to chf. the etoh would break the surface tension of the frothy bubbles and allow the old smoker to breathe a bit easier. the old smoker would then wonder off the the land yacht, light up the old lucky strikes and maybe make it home. why this is a good idea in the 2000's, i have no idea. thank you for letting me respond.

your story and the visual i received gave me quite a laugh!