Saudi Gazette The Saudi Society for Respiratory care organized a three-day educational course and workshop for respiratory therapists in Jeddah, consecutively for the third year in a row. Respiratory therapists and physicians from within the Kingdom and from US, Canada, and India participated in the workshop to report findings and discuss challenges of patients with respiratory disorders in the Kingdom. Specialists revealed that there is a significant lack of respiratory therapists in the Kingdom's health centers and hospitals. For every 40 patients with respiratory disorders, there is only one respiratory therapist to supervise and treat their cases. Other important issues such as a technician's priority in protecting the patient's lungs and preventing the spread of infectious disease from the patient to the breathing apparatus were also raised and discusses profusely. Respiratory therapists assist patients of all ages who suffer from pulmonary (breathing) disorders. In addition to analyzing and performing diagnostic testing, they also perform relevant exams and control patients' blood-oxygen levels, apart from utilizing cardiopulmonary equipments and machines needed to assist or monitor the patients breathing. There is a growing need for respiratory therapists due to a rise in pollution and the increased incidence of allergies and asthma among the youngsters. Respiratory care and sleeping disorder specialist at King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Dr. Mashni Al-Saeed urged medical students to specialize in respiratory therapy. He encouraged hospitals to adopt the newest technology in artificial respiration, known as Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA). It is the latest ventilating machines which improves the interaction between the patient and the ventilator. The machine is more sensitive to signals from the patient's brain and electrical signals from the diaphragm to avoid either under or over mechanical assistance of the patient in breathing. The technology may also reduce diaphragm disuse atrophy common in critically ill patients hooked up to the ventilator for extended periods of time. Hence, it can prevent the wastage of diaphragm, since diaphragm is a muscle and muscle tissues deteriorate when not used and also help minimize patients discomfort and agitation by promoting spontaneous breathing. The workshop also showcased how NAVA can be used on newborns and in the intensive care units. Respiratory technicians and therapists learned how to gradually wean off the patients from the artificial respiration machines. __
