Mechanical Ventilators Availability Survey in Thai ICUs (ICU-RESOURCE I Study)
Kaweesak Chittawatanarat MD, PhD*1, Thananchai Bunburaphong MD*2, Ratapum Champunot MD*3, Thai Society of Critical Care Medicine Study group*4
Affiliation : *1 Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand *2 Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand *3 Department of Medicine, Buddhachinaraj Phitsanulok Hospital, Phitsanulok, Thailand *4 The Thai Society of Critical Care Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : Mechanical ventilators (MV) have been progressing rapidly. New ventilator modes and supportive equipments
have been developed. However; the MV status in Thai ICUs was not available. The objective of this report was to describe
the MV supply and availability in Thai ICUs and review some important characteristics regarding of the availability of MV.
Material and Method: The ICU RESOURCE I study (Mechanical ventilator part) database was used in the present study.
Hospital types, MV brands and models were recorded. Statistically significant differences between and among groups were
defined as p-value<0.05.
Results : A total of 2,098 MVs were included in the present study. Of these, 448 electrically independent MVs (Bird’s Mark)
were noted (21.35%). The remainder of 1,650 (78.65%) MVs were electrically dependent MVs (eMV). About 90 percent of
eMVs were from the following seven eMV brands including Benette, Hamilton, Event, Newport, CareFusion or Bird (volume
type), Drager and Servo respectively. About half of them were from the two brands of Bennette and Hamilton. Recent
advanced MVs including EvitaXL, Hamilton G5, Servo-I and Epi (NAVA) were more available in academic ICUs than in non-
academic ICUs. The adult HFOV could be found only in academic ICUs in this survey.
Conclusion : Bird Mark ventilators were also a high proportion of the MVs in Thai ICUs. Bennette and Hamilton were the
most highly available MV in this survey. Advanced MV models were more available in academic ICUs (Thai Clinical Trial
Registry: TCTR-201200005).
Keywords : Thai ICUs, Mechanical ventilator, Supply, Non-conventional mode
