TREATMENT OF RESPIRATORY FAILURE IN ACUTE EPIDEMIC POLIOMYELITIS

Abstract

The barospirator for artificial respiration designed by Thunberg¹served as a basis for the construction of the respirators now used in many hospitals for the treatment of respiratory failure in poliomyelitis. In the Thunberg barospirator the patient was entirely enclosed in an air-tight cylinder. The air pressure within this cylinder was alternately raised and lowered, resulting in an intrapulmonary exchange of air sufficient to maintain life for long periods. Thunberg aptly described the effect of the barospirator on the patient as resulting in respiration without respiratory movement. It soon became evident that this ingenious apparatus was not satisfactory for cases of prolonged respiratory failure. Drinker and Shaw²modified the barospirator so that the patient's head would be outside the air-tight cylinder. This is the apparatus most frequently used for respiratory failure in poliomyelitis. Forty-six patients with respiratory embarrassment due to poliomyelitis were treated in the Drinker respirator at