nebulizer operated by foot pump--any dangers?

Dear LungLine,
Another person with COPD who was concerned about being able to use her nebulizer when electrical power is not available wrote that she uses a foot operated pump (like the ones sold to pump up bicycle tires & inflate balls, etc.) connected by tubing to her nebulizer mouthpiece to nebulize her medication when an electrical outlet is not handy.  She says it works very well for her & she's demonstrated it to her pulmonologist who approves.  When I mentioned this to my husband & friends, they wondered if there was any danger of oil from the pump getting into the tubing and being inhaled with the medication.  Is there any danger of accidentally inhaling valve oil or other materials using a foot operated pump as the "compressor" for the nebulizer?
Aloha,
Starion

[National Jewish]

There is oil in the output of any air compressor, large or small (an air pump is a compressor). How much oil is another question that I can't answer, but oil will be there. It would vary with the size and quality of the air pump. Large hospital systems compressed air systems have dryers too remove water vapor and filtration systems to remove oil vapor.
Siemens-Servo makes an inline filter that would fit the line to a nebulizer. This device is used in the Servo 900 and 300 series ventilators. Sensormedics uses the same filter in a pressure sensing line to keep contaminants out of the pulmonary function machine. These are classified as medical devices, and would be very difficult for a layman to obtain. They would work very well to remove any contaminants from the nebulizer line while allowing unimpeded airflow.
Perhaps it would be better to use your MDI in the event of power failure. MDIs, used with a spacer, and adequate technique, should give you appropriate bronchodilator dosing. (This assumes that you are using medication that is available in MDI format.) Discuss this with your physician.
In an emergency, one does what one has to do. If one is using the air pump on a regular (non-emergency) basis, then I think one's health would be better served by some other method of medication delivery.

[starion]

Dear LungLine,
A Respiratory Physical Therapist on a LIST I subscribe to was HIGHLY critical of the idea of attaching the nebulizer to the foot pump and said he thought it was a VERY RISKY idea.  For one thing, he noted that the speed at which the pump would be operated would probably be highly variable, leading to uneven medication dispersion.  For another thing, he also was VERY concerned about the things which would be sent out from the pump through this unintended use ofthe pump.
The "inventor" said she has responded to over 165 requests for info about the concept and demonstrated it with approval at her local hospital respiratory department, to her pulmonologist & her local fire department!
Anyway, until I hear anything good from you or my pulmonologist, I guess I'll stick with the electrical outlets & inverters as power sources for inhaling my nebulized meds.  I'd still love to have your official opinion too & promise to share it with the RPT & inventor.
Aloha,
Starion--thriving in HI

[starion]

Dear LungLine,
Thanks for your excellent reply.  I've shared it with the inventor, as well as the RPT who was also VERY negative about the invention.
Aloha,
Starion--thriving in HI

[hank126]

A related discussion, emergency nebulizer pump was started.