title: The use of heliox in critical care.
abstract: This paper reviews the medical use of helium oxygen mixture in obstructive airway disease in patients with croup, narrow endotracheal tubes (ETTs), respiratory distress syndrome, asthma, bronchiolitis, as well as patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and acute lung injury. In addition, some other indications of heliox use and some innovative methods of ventilation applied in pediatrics and adults are presented through review of the literature of current decade. Yet, to recommend heliox use seems to require more research based on clinical practice and observation through vaster and more robust investigations.
authors.affiliation: Chronic Respiratory Disease Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Mohammadreza
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hashemian
authors.affiliation: Shohada Hospital Critical Care Unit, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Farahnaz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fallahian
keywords: Administration; airway obstruction; dyspnea; heliox; mechanical ventilation