title: Humidification practices in the Adult Intensive Care Unit, Prince of Wales Hospital.
abstract: In the Adult Intensive Care Unit of The Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia, inspiratory gas is humidified to saturation at 37 degrees C. This stops the buildup of dried sputum within the endotracheal tubes and thus prevents blocked tubes and the increased resistance caused by partial obstruction. Inspiratory and expiratory hose heater wires are used to produce a completely dry circuit, allowing the elimination of water traps and circuit support arms without the resistance of a heat and moisture exchanger.
authors.affiliation: Adult Intensive Care Unit, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, Australia.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lawrence
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000592:standards*; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical