SUBJECT: Heat and Humidity in mechanical ventilation

The addition of heat and moisture to inspired gases delivered to the patient during mechanical ventilatory support via an artificial airway

PURPOSE: To assure proper conditioning of mechanically ventilated patient’s inspired gas.

1. Humidification is provided to all patients requiring mechanical ventilation via an artificial airway. Conditioning of inspired gases should be instituted using either an HME (if not contraindicated) or a heated humidifier.

2. HMEs may be used for short-term use (< or = 96 hours) and during transport.

3. Heated humidifiers will be used for patients requiring long term mechanical ventilation (> 96 hours) or for patients who exhibit contraindications for HME use.

4. HME's will be discarded and replaced with new daily.

5. HME's will be replaced with heated humidifiers after 96 hours of use.

6. HME's will be replaced with heated humidifiers if any of the Hazards/Complications of HME's are observed.

Humidification device

A system to monitor inspired gas temperature and to alarm when the temperature falls outside a preset range (for heated humidifier)

Sterile water for heated humidifiers

1. Select a humidification device in accordance with policy.

1. Place the HME in the circuit between the inspiratory and expiratory limb (so both inspired and expired gas passes through it).

2. Attach the circuit to the patient's endotracheal or tracheostomy tube.

3. Inspect HME with patient/ventilator system checks and prn. Replace the HME anytime secretions contaminate the insert or filter.

1. Set up unit in accordance with manufacturer's instructions and place in inspiratory limb of circuit.

2. Connect water supply as instructed by manufacturer.

3. Place temperature probe to monitor temperature as near the patient's airway opening as possible.

4. Turn heater unit on and set temperature to maintain inspired gas at 33 ± 2°C .

5. Set high temperature alarm no higher than 37°C, and the low temperature alarm no lower than 30°C.

6. Check the humidification device as well as inspired gas temperature, water level and function of automatic feed system (if applicable) during the patient-ventilator system checks and prn.

7. If using heated wire circuit adjust wire heat to maintain some condensate in the inspiratory limb of the circuit. Remove excess condensate from the patient circuit as necessary.

Humidification of inspired gas during mechanical ventilation is mandatory when an endotracheal or tracheostomy tube is present.

There are no contraindications to providing physiologic conditioning of inspired gas during mechanical ventilation.

An HME is contraindicated under some circumstances:

1. Use of an HME is contraindicated for patients with thick, copious, or bloody secretions.

2. Use of an HME is contraindicated for patients with an expired tidal volume less than 70% of the delivered tidal volume (e.g. those with large bronchopleurocutaneous fistulas or incompetent or absent endotracheal tube cuffs).

3. Use of an HME is contraindicated for patients with body temperatures less than 32°C.

4. Use of an HME may be contraindicated for patients with high spontaneous minute volumes (> 10L/min).

5. An HME must be removed from the patient circuit during aerosol treatments when the nebulizer is placed in the patient circuit.

Hypothermia--HME or heated humidifiers.

Underhydration and impaction of mucus secretions--HME or heated humidifiers.

Hypoventilation and/or alveolar gas trapping due to mucus plugging of airways--HME or heated humidifier.

Possible increased resistive work of breathing due to mucus plugging of airways--HME or heated humidifiers.

Possible increased resistive work of breathing through the humidifier--HME or heated humidifiers.

Possible hypoventilation due to increased dead space--HME.

Ineffective low-pressure alarm during disconnection due to resistance through HME.

Inadvertent overfilling resulting in unintentional tracheal lavage--heated reservoir humidifiers.

Some ventilators generate a high flow through the patient circuit that may aerosolize contaminated condensate, putting both the patient and clinician at risk for nosocomial infection--heated humidifiers.

Elevated airway pressures or inadvertent tracheal lavage from pooled condensate in patient circuit--heated humidifiers.

Patient-ventilator dysynchrony and improper ventilator performance due to pooled condensation in the circuit--heated humidifiers.

Hyperthermia or thermal injury to the airway from heated humidifiers; burns to the patient and tubing meltdown if heated-wire circuits are covered or circuits and humidifiers are incompatible.

Potential for electrical shock or burns --heated humidifiers.

All patients with an artificial airway requiring mechanical ventilation should receive continuous humidification of inspired gases.

Sterile water should be used.

When using a closed, automatic feed system, the unused portion of water in the water feed reservoir remains sterile and need not be discarded when the patient circuit is changed. However, the water feed system should be designated for single patient use only.

Because condensate is potentially infectious waste, it should never be drained back into the humidifier reservoir. (somewhat controversial - gas flow through certain reservoirs can produce aerosol, others may not)

AARC Clinical Practice Guideline - Humidification during Mechanical Ventilation. Respir Care 1992;37:887-890