Full face mask bipap

[divaRN*]

In the near future, my hospital will be trialing a new bipap mask. Instead of coving the nose and mouth it will cover the entire face. I saw one and it looks like something out of star wars. My first concern was how patients would respond to this. From my experience the majority of them do not like the masks we already have and I can not imagine them liking a full face mask. My other concern was about eyes. Patient's mouths get very dry from being on bipap. What will happen to the eyes with the full face mask? Also will the pressure have a negative effect on vision? Has anyone used these yet? What are your thoughts? Do patients like them? Thanks for the input!

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

i think some patients will prefer it -- it doesn't seem to obstruct the vision as much as a nasal mask, and will be easier to fit and less pressure on the bridge of the nose.

[Twinmom06, ASN, APN]

I wear a biPap at home (sleep apnea) and while not the same as in the hospital I know that one of the advantages that some people have with that type of mask is that it reduces the claustrophobic feeling some have...also they vent downward so there isn't as much air blowing into the eyes...

[nyrn5125]

Wow, that looks terrible.

I can hear the darth vader music just looking at that mask

[cokeforbreakfast]

I have never seen any other kind...the full mask was all my floor (resp. emphasis) ever used. I had two pts who only needed them overnights that would ask for them at 8p on the dot; they seemed to really look forward to the decreased work of breathing. Two other pts whose families used them to buy time while deciding what to do (multiple comorbidities); eventually decided to d/c and pts eventually passed.

Just have to make sure they are properly seated and don't cause abraisions to the face (though I guess that is true for all masks), watch for n/v, and take it off to offer po water. They are difficult for the pt to remove themselves if pt is not A&O x3.

[MunoRN, RN]

We've been using the for a while. Aside from hard-to-fit faces, some patients who get claustrophobic with the nose/mouth masks actually prefer the full face mask; they feel like having the edges of the mask around the face feels less intrusive than have the contact points of the mask on your face.

I haven't found them to be more drying to the eyes. Bipap can be drying to the mouth and nose due to the airflow through them, but as Nuke Laloosh points out you don't breath through your eyelids (any Bull Durham fans out there?) If anything, it seems like the nose/mouth masks can be more drying to the eyes since leaks often occur between the nose and eye causing an annoying airlfow across the eyes.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

as Nuke Laloosh points out you don't breathe through your eyelids (any Bull Durham fans out there?)

"Of course you can't, silly ... who ever told you such a thing?"

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

Pt's are NOT going to like that!

[ZippyGBR, BSN, RN]

according the philips rep the full face masks fit better because

- your seal is against reasonably padded bony areas rather than soft tissue and the bridge of the nose

- you don't need to strap them as tight

- the internal structures of the mask are designed to minimise the airflow upwards ...

the suggestion he had to anyone unconvinced over the different masks is to get some samples and try them yourselves - we are about to reintroduce ventilatory support on our unit and part of the training package includes a load of sample masks and circuits so we can 'play' with the kit

also have a play with various types of commercially available 'industrial ' masks to understand better about bridge of the nose leaks - anyone been fitted forFFP3 s in light of the bird flu panic?

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

Im not sure if this is the brand we are using but you can get an idea of what it looks like

http://www.directhomemedical.com/masks-cpap-bipap/fitlife-fullface-cpap-mask-respironics-mylife.html

I know it isn't comfortable to wear a BiPAP, but I can see even more non-compliance issues with this...that looks awful!

[RNChristy]

To look at the mask, it looks like it would be more stifling; however, I do know some OSA patients that will only use this type of mask. They say that it is much more comfortable and less claustrophobic than the other masks.

Christy

[divaRN*]

good input guys. thanks!