Simulation in computer of the mechanical ventilator Servo 900C made by Siemens Elema. 1995

M A Santana, and F J Martínez, and H A Fundora
Department of Medical Informatics. Instituto Superior de Ciencias Medicas de Villa Clara, Cuba.

In our country, Intensive Care Units (ICU) for both adults and children include medical equipment of high technology that saves the lives of patients in critical condition. Many of these patients for different pathologies need the use of a mechanical ventilator which keeps the patient's respiration and allows the medical staff to assist them with other means. In practice, there are a lot of different situations that the medical staff have to face and make adequate decisions that will help save the patients' lives. In this case, the mechanical ventilator must be used, requiring a great deal of experience acquired along many years of work. The mechanical ventilator SERVO 900C made by Siemens Elema is available in all ICUs; this equipment is used for the treatment of more critical patients due to his reliability and technical features. Based on this fact, a simulator was designed to help train the less experienced staff in the use of the ventilator and to allow them to face real case simulations, making decisions that will be adequate or wrong with no risk to the patient's life. In this way, they would acquire the necessary knowledge on how to use the equipment in real-life situations. The created system displays the control panel of the ventilator allowing the user to interact. The control panel includes both analogical and digital devices that show different parameters and also the gases mixer which is connected to the equipment. During the work, the user can access a calculator to facilitate the adjustment of some parameters in case any calculation is needed. The system is divided into modules. The module "Exercises" permits you to choose one out of a set and solve it by means of the adjustment of the controls; this answer is analyzed and warning messages are displayed in case a control has been set incorrectly. The aim of these exercises is that the users learn how to handle the equipment by parts and are conceived for a sequence of question-answer. The module "Problems" describes the condition of a given patient which must be treated with the ventilator. The user will then simulate his performance in the adjustment of it. The sequence question-answer will change dynamically according to the evolution previously previewed for the patient by the professor. The simulator has a set of acoustic and visual alarms which are activated during the occurrence of different anomalies. These alarms work according to the professor's will at the moment of planning the lesson. The module "Information" gives the user the possibility of consulting topics about the equipment such as: functions, patient's safety, installation, clinical judgment and location of failures. In the last module "Options" the user defines the files (exercises or problems) he is going to use as well as the directory of work and the initialization file. The system uses pull-down menus, providing a context-sensitive on screen help with information about the function of each control and how to handle it. For the preparation of the files of exercises and problems only Servo editor can be used; this editor works independently from the simulator. The system requires a PC IBM Compatible with 640 kb RAM, MS-DOS operating system, and VGA color display. We consider that with the implementation this system the user can gain experience and knowledge about the use of the ventilator before he faces real situations.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D012121 Respiration, Artificial Any method of artificial breathing that employs mechanical or non-mechanical means to force the air into and out of the lungs. Artificial respiration or ventilation is used in individuals who have stopped breathing or have RESPIRATORY INSUFFICIENCY to increase their intake of oxygen (O2) and excretion of carbon dioxide (CO2). Ventilation, Mechanical,Mechanical Ventilation,Artificial Respiration,Artificial Respirations,Mechanical Ventilations,Respirations, Artificial,Ventilations, Mechanical
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D003194 Computer-Assisted Instruction A self-learning technique, usually online, involving interaction of the student with programmed instructional materials. Programmed Instruction, Computerized,Self-Instruction Programs, Computerized,Computer Assisted Instruction,Computer-Assisted Instructions,Computerized Programmed Instruction,Computerized Self-Instruction Program,Computerized Self-Instruction Programs,Instruction, Computer-Assisted,Instruction, Computerized Programmed,Instructions, Computer-Assisted,Program, Computerized Self-Instruction,Programs, Computerized Self-Instruction,Self Instruction Programs, Computerized,Self-Instruction Program, Computerized
D003198 Computer Simulation Computer-based representation of physical systems and phenomena such as chemical processes. Computational Modeling,Computational Modelling,Computer Models,In silico Modeling,In silico Models,In silico Simulation,Models, Computer,Computerized Models,Computer Model,Computer Simulations,Computerized Model,In silico Model,Model, Computer,Model, Computerized,Model, In silico,Modeling, Computational,Modeling, In silico,Modelling, Computational,Simulation, Computer,Simulation, In silico,Simulations, Computer
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults

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