BACKGROUND This study examined the effectiveness of a theoretical framework that integrates self-determination theory (SDT) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in explaining the use of facemasks to prevent seasonal influenza among Hong Kong older adults. METHODS Data were collected at two time points in the winter in Hong Kong, during which influenza is most prevalent. At Time 1, older a...

BACKGROUND Recent studies suggest advantages of muscle relaxants for facemask ventilation. However, direct effects of muscle relaxants on mask ventilation remain unclear because these studies did not control mechanical factors influencing ventilation. We tested a hypothesis that muscle relaxants, either rocuronium or succinylcholine, improve mask ventilation. METHODS In anesthetized adult per...

Facemasks are widely used as a protective measure by general public to prevent inhalation of airborne pathogens including seasonal, swine and other forms of influenza and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), etc. However, scientific data on effectiveness of facemasks in reducing infections in the community are extremely limited and even inconsistent. In this work, two manikins labelled as ...

In selected patients, noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) with a facemask is now commonly employed as the first choice for providing mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit (ICU). Aerosol therapy for treatment of acute or acute-on-chronic respiratory failure in this setting may be delivered by pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) with a chamber spacer and facemask or ...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Although the incidence of difficult laryngoscopy is similar in obese and non-obese patients, there are more reports of difficult intubation in obese individuals. Alternatives for the diagnosis and prediction of difficult intubation in the preoperative period may help reduce anesthetic complications in obese patients. The aim of this study was to identify predictors for...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Supportive care remains the mainstay of therapy in bronchiolitis. Earlier studies suggest that helium-oxygen therapy may be beneficial, but evidence is limited. We aimed to compare efficacy of 2 treatment gases, Heliox and Airox (21% oxygen + 79% helium or nitrogen, respectively), on length of hospital treatment for bronchiolitis. METHODS This was a multicenter random...

Face aftereffects (FAEs) are generally thought of as being a visual phenomenon. However, recent studies have shown that people can haptically recognize a face. Here, I report a haptic, rather than visual, FAE. By using three-dimensional facemasks, I found that haptic exploration of the facial expression of the facemask causes a subsequently touched neutral facemask to be perceived as having the...

BACKGROUND The global outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003 has been an international public health threat. Quick diagnostic tests and specific treatments for SARS are not yet available; thus, prevention is of paramount importance to contain its global spread. This study aimed to determine factors associating with individuals' practice of the target SARS preventive be...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Nerve injury following mask ventilation is a rare but serious anesthetic complication. The majority of reported cases are associated with excessive pressure applied to the face mask, long duration of mask ventilation, excessive digital pressure behind the mandible to relieve airway obstruction and pressure exerted by the plastic oropharyngeal airway. CASE REPORT We p...

Anna Negus Anaesthetic Fellow Starship Hospital Grafton Auckland New Zealand INTRODUCTION The facemask has been used since the origins of anaesthesia and it remains an essential and versatile piece of equipment. It offers a simple, non-invasive method for delivering both oxygen and anaesthetic gases and vapours to the patient and it is widely used for both induction and maintenance of general a...