Delivering optimal humidification without sacrificing clinician efficiency
Providing proper humidification levels to invasively ventilated patients is of key importance. When the upper airway is bypassed during invasive mechanical ventilation, humidification is necessary to prevent hypothermia, disruption of the airway epithelium, bronchospasm, atelectasis, and airway obstruction. Many patients, particularly those for whom a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) is contraindicated or who require long-term ventilatory support, require the use of a heated humidification system to assure that their requirements are met. With heated humidification, however, comes the challenge of managing the condensation of water that occurs in the ventilator tubing between the humidifier and the patient.
Whether using a conventional ventilator circuit, or one with heated wires, condensation will occur when using heated humidification, and the clinician must address the removal of condensate and any consequences that may result. This paper discusses recommendations related to the use of heated humidification with invasively ventilated patients, the challenges posed by condensation removal from the circuit, and a new product option for addressing these challenges.
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