Breath rate monitor is a tool for measuring breathing rate. It has been used as a diagnostic tool for respiratory system disorders. Breath rate monitor also aids in preventing and treating sleep apnea, hyperventilation, respiratory distress syndrome and other respiratory disorders.
The following are some of the features of the breath rate monitor:
- It is very easy to use.
Each patient will require a different testing procedure, the breath rate monitor gives the clinician a great deal of flexibility in choosing what works best for each patient. This flexibility allows for personalization of breath test procedures and nursing interventions. It may be used at a central respiratory care station to monitor long-term ventilation.
- It is portable.
The breath rate monitor uses a self contained capsule which is portable and easy to carry around or attach to central monitoring systems, making it ideal for use in any setting – hospitals, nursing homes or respiratory therapy offices. Breath rate monitors can be attached to a breathing system in the home. It has the potential to provide early warning of impending respiratory distress and assist with the patient’s management at home. This may also be an effective method for assessing whether nonpharmacological methods of preventing apnea have been effective after discharge from the hospital.
- It is low cost.
The breath testing devices are relatively low costs and require minimal room (no wires, no connectors) and can be used in a number of settings, including the home. Professional respiratory therapy facilities may have the device delivered to them by their suppliers at an additional charge.
- It can be disposable.
Breath rate monitors are disposable to minimize patient anxiety and inconvenience during a test or due to a malfunctioning device. Disposable devices are also more eco-friendly as they do not need to be cleaned after each use.
- It is non-invasive.
Breath rate monitoring is non-invasive in that the patient does not need to participate in an examination, breathe into a mouthpiece, or provide information about posture, activities of daily living or disability/status. Some conventional clinical tests require the patient to do these things and have resulted in false positive and negative test results in patients with sleep apnea or other respiratory disorders. The breath rate monitor can be used on any person without regard to their respiratory status.
- It is practical for all ages.
Breath rate monitoring is useful in the study of many pathological conditions in infants and children. It has the potential to supplement physiologic testing and diagnostic tools used to assess infant and child health and disease.
- Aerobic response is monitored.
The results of breath rate tests are statistically comparable with those obtained using laboratory spirometry or exercise testing, but with a much lower cost, fewer risks, less time needed for data collection (approximately 5 minutes) and a greater tolerance by patients for another procedure. Variations in respiratory function can be monitored over time and compared with heart rate changes for information about possible cardiovascular or autonomic dysfunction or about ongoing treatment effects.
- The allowance for the test to be performed in a non-laboratory setting.
The result of a breath rate monitoring test can be used to alert clinicians of changes that may occur during a hospital stay, and can be used to determine whether changes have occurred during recovery as well as to provide data regarding the potential for exercise tolerance before discharge from the hospital. Monitoring patients in medical and surgical settings has been found beneficial in providing early warning of impending respiratory distress, permitting clinicians to intervene with appropriate intervention(s), and reducing length of stay in both the intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital when compared with historical controls.