One of ERCA’s missions is to create a platform for exchange of knowledge and experience. This is why we are highlighting some articles and recent studies for discussion.
We encourage you to contact us if you would like to share your knowledge and experience on the topics presented or have a topic of particular interest to you that you would like to highlight and discuss with respiratory care professionals.
High Flow Nasal Cannula therapy (HFNC), do we know which flow setting is the best?
In the last decade, HFNC has been increasingly used as a respiratory support to reduce intubation rate and/or post-extubation failure in different patient populations. Recent clinical trials have showed improved physiologic and clinical patient outcomes. For who are...
Can different CPAP Masks make the difference?
When patients with obstructive sleep apnea begin treatment with continuously positive airway pressure, adherence can be challenging. CPAP-treatment is quite effective, but unfortunately it is also poorly tolerated, often due to side effects and the type of mask used....
Dysfunctional breathing patterns in long COVID patients
Affecting 10-30% of COVID patients with mild infections and 50-70% of those with severe infections, long COVID is defined by the World Health Organization as symptoms persisting for at least two months in individuals with confirmed or probable SARS-CoV-2 infection...
Respiratory symptoms in patients with post COVID-19 condition.
Post-COVID respiratory symptoms are diverse, variable, and often undetectable by traditional tests. We recommend to read a very useful study that explores tailored interventions for post-COVID patients, highlighting the need for a broad range of tests and...
The importance to evaluate Dyspnoea in mechanically ventilated patients
We recommend a review of the literature to understand the clinical significance, diagnosis and management of dyspnoea in critically ill, mechanically ventilated adult patientsDyspnoea ranks among the most distressing experiences that human beings can endure....
How can MI-E waveforms improve the patient treatment?
In their 2024 review article Waves of Precision: A Practical Guide for Reviewing New Tools to Evaluate Mechanical In-Exsufflation Efficacy in Neuromuscular Disorders, Chatwin, Sancho, Lujan, Andersen, and Winck present a comprehensive exploration of waveform analysis...
Airway Clearance Techniques in neuromuscular disorders are advancing
Highly recommended for those involved in respiratory care for neuromuscular conditions, the review article Airway Clearance in Neuromuscular Disease by Sheers, Andersen, and Chatwin (2024) revisits and builds upon key guidelines established by the European...
Nothing is written in stone!
Evidence based practice (EBP) and aerosol therapy in the mechanically ventilated critically ill patient. EBP has been modifying clinical practice for many years. Research studies are carried out, evidence evaluated, and guidelines established based on validated...
Airways Clearance management in Bronchiectasis: an overview of Europe.
Airway Clearance (AC) represents one of the main non-pharmacological treatments in hypersecretive pulmonary diseases. Evidence from randomized control trials is constantly growing and many international guidelines include AC in the management strategies in different...
