Resistive pressure of a condenser humidifier in mechanically ventilated patients

Heat and moisture exchangers (or "nose" humidifiers) are commonly used to aid in the humidification of inspired gases of mechanically ventilated patients. These devices add resistance to the ventilator circuit that has heretofore not been quantified in critically ill patients. Accordingly, we determined the resistive pressures associated with new and old (but < 24 hrs in the circuit) humidifiers in 23 critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients.

Prospective study.

Adult medical and surgical intensive care units at a university center.

Twenty-three critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients using a condenser humidifier between the wye and the endotracheal tube.

Peak and plateau airway pressures were determined with the humidifier in place. These measurements were repeated without the humidifier, then after insertion of a fresh humidifier into the circuit. In five patients, measurements were repeated after humidifiers had remained in place for a full 24 hrs.

The new humidifiers increased the resistive pressure of the ventilator circuit by 4.8 +/- 2.6 cm H2O compared with no humidifier (p < .01) and had a mean resistance of 4.2 +/- 1.5 cm H2O/L/sec. Old humidifiers increased resistive pressure by 6.3 +/- 3.6 cm H2O compared with no humidifier (p < .01) and had a mean resistance of 5.1 +/- 1.8 cm H2O/L/sec. The resistive pressure doubled from 3.4 +/- 1.2 to 7.0 +/- 1.8 cm H2O (p < .01) in five patients in whom the humidifiers were left in the ventilator circuit for a full 24 hrs.

The humidifier adds a significant resistance to the ventilator circuit which may lead to incorrect assessment of respiratory system mechanics, to inappropriate therapy (e.g., bronchodilators), or to difficulty in weaning from mechanical ventilation.