Nebuliser Care and Treatment

A nebuliser is a medical device used in the treatment of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other respiratory disorders. Nebuliser treatment normally takes place in hospitals as a way of treating acute conditions in emergency situations, but some patients will also be prescribed nebuliser treatment for use in the home. The medication that is provided in the nebuliser is reliever medication at high doses, although steroids may also be delivered this way. The idea is that the nebuliser delivers the medication in the form of an aerosol which is easily inhaled, however it is generally accepted that using an inhaler with a spacer for around five puffs provides the same level of treatment.
Patients should only ever use a nebuliser when instructed to do so by a doctor or nurse, as they are powerful drug delivery systems and should not be used without supervision. Almost all users have to buy their own nebuliser as they are not available on the NHS. However, patients should be able to buy them VAT free and some NHS funding is available although by no means guaranteed.
Before taking home their nebuliser, patients should be given a thorough personalised and written treatment plan explaining in detail how to use the nebuliser, when and how often to use it and how much medication to use. The plan should also detail how to tell when the condition of the patient is worsening and what to do in this situation. Taking more medication is not a substitute for seeking medical help if the condition worsens as it will only delay the patient from seeking help when their body is clearly signalling that help is needed.
At home, the equipment should be kept on a clean, hard surface, such as a table rather than on the floor as this will limit the amount of dust that can get into the equipment, aggravating the patient's condition. The nebuliser chamber must be cleaned thoroughly inside and out using warm water every day and the mask or mouthpiece should be cleaned a couple of times a week.
Equipment should be regularly serviced and maintained by the manufacturer. The nebuliser chamber needs a maintenance check every second month and the whole device should be serviced in its entirety twice a year. Whilst the equipment is away being serviced, an alternative should be used. Many manufacturers or hospitals offer loaned equipment in these instances.
Visit the DeVilbiss Healthcare website at http://www.devilbisshc.com to find out about the range of nebuliser equipment they offer.
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