To produce clinically useful aerosol particles through a ...

[rosent76]

To produce clinically useful aerosol particles through a small-volume nebulizer, the gas flow rate should be set at ___ L/min to ___ L/min.
 
  a. 12; 15 c. 6; 10
  b. 10; 12 d. 3; 6

Question 2

Driving a small-volume nebulizer with heliox, instead of air or oxygen, has what effect on the aerosol produced?
 
  a. Increases upper airway impaction
  b. Creates larger particles
  c. Decreases the aerosol output
  d. Increases the turbulence of the aerosol

[juliaf]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
Set flow to the manufacturer's recommendations; often this is 6 to 10 L/min. See Box 4-11.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A
The density of the driving gas affects both aerosol generation and the delivery of aerosols to the lungs. Lowering the density of the carrier gas reduces the amount of turbulent flow, which re-sults in less aerosol impaction in the upper airways. When heliox is used to drive a jet nebulizer at standard flow rates, aerosol output is substantially less than with air or oxygen, and aerosol parti-cles are considerably smaller.