Evaluation of an active humidification system for inspired gas.
OBJECTIVE
The effectiveness of the active humidification systems (AHS) in patients already weaned from mechanical ventilation and with an artificial airway has not been very well described. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of an AHS in chronically tracheostomized and spontaneously breathing patients.


METHODS
Measurements were quantified at three levels of temperature (T°) of the AHS: level I, low; level II, middle; and level III, high and at different flow levels (20 to 60 L/minute). Statistical analysis of repeated measurements was performed using analysis of variance and significance was set at a P<0.05.


RESULTS
While the lowest temperature setting (level I) did not condition gas to the minimum recommended values for any of the flows that were used, the medium temperature setting (level II) only conditioned gas with flows of 20 and 30 L/minute. Finally, at the highest temperature setting (level III), every flow reached the minimum absolute humidity (AH) recommended of 30 mg/L.


CONCLUSIONS
According to our results, to obtain appropiate relative humidity, AH and T° of gas one should have a device that maintains water T° at least at 53℃ for flows between 20 and 30 L/m, or at T° of 61℃ at any flow rate.
Department of Respiratory Care, Clinica Basilea, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Nicolás G
NG
Roux
Department of Respiratory Care, Clinica Basilea, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. ; Intensive Care Unit, Sanatorio Anchorena, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Gustavo A
GA
Plotnikow
Department of Respiratory Care, Clinica Basilea, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Darío S
DS
Villalba
Department of Respiratory Care, Clinica Basilea, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Emiliano
E
Gogniat
Department of Respiratory Care, Clinica Basilea, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Vivivana
V
Feld
Department of Respiratory Care, Clinica Basilea, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Noelia
N
Ribero Vairo
Department of Respiratory Care, Clinica Basilea, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Marisa
M
Sartore
Department of Respiratory Care, Clinica Basilea, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Mauro
M
Bosso
Intensive Care Unit, Sanatorio Anchorena, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
José L
JL
Scapellato
Intensive Care Unit, Sanatorio Anchorena, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Dante
D
Intile
Department of Respiratory Care, Clinica Basilea, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Fernando
F
Planells
Department of Respiratory Care, Clinica Basilea, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Diego
D
Noval
Department of Respiratory Care, Clinica Basilea, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Pablo
P
Buñirigo
Department of Respiratory Care, Clinica Basilea, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Ricardo
R
Jofré
Department of Respiratory Care, Clinica Basilea, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Ernesto
E
Díaz Nielsen
Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; Patient Care; Respiratory Therapy; Tracheostomy; Ventilator Weaning