Systems and methods to facilitate the delivery of drugs

1. A method for administering a drug to a patient suffering from hypotension, the method comprising:

coupling a valve system to the patient's airway, wherein the valve system is configured to prevent or impede respiratory gases from flowing into the lungs for at least some time such that the intrathoracic pressure is less than atmospheric pressure;

introducing a hynotension-treatment drug into the patient; and

lowering the intrathoracic pressure using the valve system to cause blood to flow into the thorax and thereby increasing vital organ perfusion to enhance the circulation of the drug.

2. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the intrathoracic pressure is reduced by spontaneous breathing by the patient while preventing or inhibiting respiratory gas flow to the lungs with the valve system.

3. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the valve system is configured to prevent respiratory gases from entering the lungs until a threshold negative intrathoracic pressure in the range from about 0 cm H 2 O to about 40 cm H 2 O is exceeded.

4. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the drug is administered through a facial mask or the valve system.

5. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the valve system is configured to prevent respiratory gases from exiting the patient's lungs until a positive end expiratory pressure in the range from about 0 cm H 2 O to about 20 cm H 2 O is exceeded.

6. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the valve system is coupled to a facial mask that is placed over the mouth and nose, and further comprising removing the drug from a drug storage compartment of the facial mask.

7. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the valve system is coupled to an inhalation device that includes the drug, and further comprising inhaling from the inhalation device to administer the drug.

8. A method for administering a drug to a patient suffering from heart failure, the method comprising:

coupling a valve system to the patient's airway, wherein the valve system is configured to prevent or impede respiratory gases from flowing into the lungs for at least some time such that the intrathoracic pressure is less than atmospheric pressure until a magnitude of a threshold negative intrathoracic pressure in the range from about 0 cm H 2 O to about 40 cm H 2 O is exceeded;

introducing a heart-failure-treatment drug into the patient; and

lowering the intrathoracic pressure by spontaneous breathing of the patient while preventing or inhibiting respiratory gas flow to the lungs with the valve system to cause blood to flow into the thorax and thereby increasing vital organ perfusion to enhance the circulation of the drug.

9. A method as in claim 8 wherein the drug is administered through a facial mask or the valve system.

10. A method as in claim 8 wherein the valve system is configured to prevent respiratory gases from exiting the patient's lungs until a positive end expiratory pressure in the range from about 0 cm H 2 O to about 20 cm H 2 O is exceeded.

11. A method as in claim 8 wherein the valve system is coupled to a facial mask that is placed over the mouth and nose, and further comprising removing the drug from a drug storage compartment of the facial mask.

12. A method as in claim 8 the valve system is coupled to an inhalation device that includes the drug, and further comprising inhaling from the inhalation device to administer the drug.

13. A method for administering a drug to a patient, the method comprising:

coupling a valve system to the patient's airway, wherein the valve system is configured to prevent or impede respiratory gases from flowing into the lungs for at least some time such that the intrathoracic pressure is less than atmospheric pressure;

introducing a drug into the patient;

measuring a physiological parameter of the patient; and

lowering the intrathoracic pressure to a value based on the measured physiological parameter using the valve system to cause blood to flow into the thorax and thereby increasing vital organ perfusion to enhance the circulation of the drug.

14. A method as in claim 13 wherein the physiological parameter is selected from the group consisting of an end tidal CO 2 value, a blood-pressure value, an O 2 saturation value, a body-temperature value, and a respiratory-rate value.

15. A method as in claim 13 wherein the intrathoracic pressure is reduced by spontaneous breathing by the patient while preventing or inhibiting respiratory gas flow to the lungs with the valve system.

16. A method as in claim 13 wherein the drug is administered through a facial mask or the valve system.

17. A method as in claim 13 wherein the drugs are selected from a group consisting of glucose, sodium bicarbonate, oxygen, steroids, vasopressor drugs, anti-arrhythmic drugs, anti-seizure, anti-asthma, anesthetics, and cooling solutions to cool the brain during cardiac arrest.

18. A method as in claim 13 wherein the valve system is coupled to a facial mask that is placed over the mouth and nose, and further comprising removing the drug from a drug storage compartment of the facial mask.

19. A method as in claim 13 wherein the valve system is coupled to an inhalation device that includes the drug, and further comprising inhaling from the inhalation device to administer the drug.