neonatal ventilators

[babyminder]

We are trialling some new ventilators for our babies. We had the draegar babylog for a couple of weeks and now we are trying the SLE 5000. I didn't have much chance to try the babylog but even though i love the smiley face on the alarm window of the SLE I am not convinced the SLE is very nursing friendly. Our backup from SLE seems a bit lacking at the moment also.

Does anyone have experience of these 2 vents and how easy and effective do you find them?

The SLE has the wonderful option of HFO which gives it an edge over the babylog, but is that the be all and end all?

[prmenrs, RN]

I moved this thread to the NICU forum for better responses.

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

Unfortunately the Babylog and SLE are the last generation of vents here in the US. Many places have transitioned to newer vents like the Maquet Servo i and the EvitaXL. We still use some Babylogs here where I work, and they are pretty good. It can be hard to sense respiratory effort sometimes, and the large sensor can weigh down the ETT on smaller babies. The screen is very small, and it's hard to follow ventilation loops.

We use the Sensormedics HFOV system for all our high-frequency therapy. (Although we sometimes use rates up to 100 on the Babylog before switching to HFOV.

[acerila]

I loove the Servoi. Can't imagine using anything else, I'm spoiled. Hated the babylog (you really should have good graphics on a vent, it can tell you a lot).

[Imafloat, BSN, RN]

We use the Draeger Babylog, but they are our old vents. I imagine you are looking at a newer model than what we are using. They are small, with a small screen and dials. We now have a few of the Evita XL's and I prefer those. They are more user friendly and have pressure support for spontaneous breaths and the O2 suction feature.

[elizabells, BSN, RN]

I heart the Evita sooooo much! I've only gotten to use it once because, as Steve said, we use Babylogs for the most part. Just be glad you don't have to use InfantStars. So to me, the Babylog is a fancy fancy vent. I got spoiled the one night I got to use the Evita.

[Imafloat, BSN, RN]

I heart the Evita sooooo much! I've only gotten to use it once because, as Steve said, we use Babylogs for the most part. Just be glad you don't have to use InfantStars. So to me, the Babylog is a fancy fancy vent. I got spoiled the one night I got to use the Evita.

I believe we have infant stars also, they are our 'little' oscillators. We also have the 'big' Sensormedics Oscillators. The Evita XLs are fabulous, they even have night and day screen settings, I LOVE them!

[Sweeper933]

We use the babylogs on my unit. This is the only place I've ever worked, so I really don't have much to compare it to. That being said - I do like the babylogs. I've never had a problem with them.

[prmenrs, RN]

I googled the babylog and found this site: http://www.ventworld.com/index.asp .

This is a list of all the neonatal vents they had info on: http://www.ventworld.com/equipment/VentilatorResults.asp?ReNo=1

[RainDreamer, BSN, RN]

We use the Servo i. We do still have a few Birds though .... hardly ever see them used, but you see one occassionally.

[babyminder]

Thanks to all for the info. Sounds like I need to move to the States to be able to try out the new generation vents. I'm not very good at remembering make and model names but I used the sechrists in the UK and waht I think was an SLE but may have been a newer sechrist that had an HF option. I like the fact that you can try a baby on high frequency without having to shift equipment around which is why the SLE probably has the edge over the Drager. I have looked at a couple of other forums and found some not very complimentary comments on the SLE in regards to nursing friendliness, apparently it alarms alot! Hey Ho! We nurses wil get to make a comment but it won't be our decision in the end. Guess I am just trying to be up to speed with whatever we get.

Have just started to use this site and really love the wealth of knowledge and info that is out there on the airwaves.:)