Humidification and secretion volume in mechanically ventilated patients
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Published on: January 8, 2019
Mario Solomita1, Lucy B Palmer, Feroza Daroowalla
1Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Stony Brook University Medical Center, State University of New York at Stony Brook, HSC T 17-040, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA.
Objective:
To determine potential effects of humidification on the volume of airway secretions in mechanically ventilated patients.
Methods:
Water vapor delivery from devices providing non-heated-wire humidification, heated-wire humidification, and heat and moisture exchanger (HME) were quantified on the bench. Then, patients requiring 24-hour mechanical ventilation were exposed sequentially to each of these humidification devices, and secretions were removed and measured by suctioning every hour during the last 4 hours of the 24-hour study period.
Results:
In vitro water vapor delivery was greater using non-heated-wire humidification, compared to heated-wire humidification and HME. In vivo, a total of 9 patients were studied. Secretion volume following humidification by non-heated-wire humidification was significantly greater than for heated-wire humidification and HME (P=.004).
Conclusions:
The volume of secretions appeared to be linked to humidification, as greater water vapor delivery measured in vitro was associated with greater secretion volume in vivo.
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