February 2008
To view the Amirav article, click here.
Optimal Characteristics of Face Mask for Valved
Holding Chambers
General asthma consensus guidelines have recommended the use of Valved
Holding Chambers (VHCs) with a mask for children younger than four who are
prescribed an aerosol medication.1 Many studies have outlined the
ideal characteristics of VHC design, but until recently little research had
focused on specific mask characteristics for infants and young children.
A recent article in the journal of Pediatric Pulmonology has
considered these special needs with respect to facemask design and has
evaluated various chambers on the market to determine the ideal
characteristics for effective delivery of medication for these young
patients. Three characteristics were identified as particularly important to
overall face mask design – dead space, seal/leakage and flexibility.
To ensure the greatest proportion of medication is available for inhalation,
face masks should minimize the volume of dead space between the face and
mask.2 In patients with high respiratory rates or low tidal
volumes, the facemask fit becomes even more significant.
Several recent studies have emphasized the importance of the seal formed
between the face and the edge of the mask and note significant differences
between available models and their ability to prevent ambient air from
entering the mask during inhalation. Improper design can lead to gaps – as
small as ˝ cm – which allow ambient air to enter the mask, resulting in
almost no medication being delivered to the patient.3 When tested
against other chambers available on the market, the AeroChamber®
Brand of VHC performed better than any of the others, and was most similar
to the ‘gold standard’ Hans-Rudolph anesthesia mask.2
The anatomically designed ComfortSeal™ Masks for
the infant and child AeroChamber® VHCs minimize the
amount of dead space, while providing a soft, curved lip which requires less
force to seal and is more comfortable for the patient. In addition, the
EZ Flow Exhalation Valve, Flow-Vu™
Indicator and Alignment Feature all help parents and caregivers ensure that
the chamber is applied to the face correctly, and ensure the Metered Dose
Inhaler (MDI) is inserted in the correct vertical position.
With over 25 years of research and innovation, the AeroChamber®
Brand of VHC has been continually improved to ensure a comfortable mask fit
and exceptional drug delivery. For more information about the importance of
facemask design to the delivery of aerosol medications or for Mask Sizers to
assist in the selection of the proper size mask, please visit our website at
www.trudellmed.com
1 Global
Initiative for Asthma (GINA). Global Strategy for Asthma Management
and Prevention. Updated 2006.
2 Amirav, I and Newhouse, MT. Review of Optimal
Characteristics of Face-Masks for Valved-Holding Chambers (VHCs).
Pediatric Pulmonology 43:268-274 (2008)
3 Morton RW and Mitchell JP. 2007. Design of Facemasks for
Delivery of Aerosol-Based Medication via Pressurized Metered Dose Inhaler
with Valved Holding Chamber: Key Issues that Affect Performance.
Journal of Aerosol Medicine. 20(1):29-45.
* Trade marks and
registered trade marks of Trudell Medical International © Trudell Medical
International 2007. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy
MD-729B-0208