[Tracheal conditioning after administration of water via vaporizer or hand-spray]

In this investigation, a comparison is made between tracheal conditioning after use of a vaporizing humidifier and use of a tracheal spray in tracheotomized patients.

Humidity of the upper tracheal segment before and after administration of nebulized or sprayed water was measured.

After use of both the vaporizer and the hand-spray, the absolute humidity in the trachea increased significantly. After end of humidification, the humidity decreased significantly slower after use of the hand-spray than after vaporizer.

Both methods of airway humidification increase tracheal humidity and conditioning. Administration of hand-sprayed water into the trachea seems to be longer efficient on tracheal humidity. The tracheal hand-spray is an effective and easy-to-use method of tracheal humidification for tracheotomies and laryngectomies.