Temperature variations in disposable heat and moisture exchangers.
Temperature variations in different parts of three heat and moisture exchangers (HME) were measured during spontaneous breathing. Temperatures below ambient occurred in the distal part of two of them. The lowest temperatures recorded were more than 6 degrees C below room temperature. This effect can explain why gas expired through a good HME is not saturated with water at ambient temperature.
D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D012119:Respiration; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013696:Temperature