Heated respiratory humidification

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare offers a comprehensive range of humidified solutions across the respiratory care continuum.


View: Optimal humidity, Humidity for the care continuum
It is well accepted that heated and humidified inspiratory gases support the airway’s role as a natural defence system as well as promote clear, open airways for efficient gas exchange and ventilation.1

Heated humidifiers support both Optimal Humidity in the airways and optimal ventilation, with a wide range of patient indications and product solutions.
Principles of heat and humidity in the airway
Devices to heat and humidify
Heated humidification for neonates and infants
Optimal Humidity

Optimal Humidity is the condition under which our airways naturally heat and humidify inspired gas. This gas condition most often refers to gas at 37 °C, 44 mg/L H2O or 100% relative humidity (RH).* It is also known as body temperature and pressure, saturated (BTPS).

During normal breathing, the airway is responsible for conditioning gases. It adds heat and humidity to the air on inspiration and reclaims some on expiration. Medical oxygen is 110 times drier than our lungs need,2 so heating and humidifying respiratory gases reduces the demand on the patient to compensate for this.

Heating and humidifying gases before they reach the patient reduces the demand placed on the airway, supporting physiological balance.
Humidity for the care continuum

Humidification is a key component across the respiratory care continuum, with heated humidifiers supporting a wide range of patient populations and indications.

Of particular importance, humidification has been shown to assist the function of the mucociliary transport system and is key in supporting physiological balance.1

For neonates and infants, the respiratory care continuum includes T-piece resuscitation.
Invasive ventilation

For invasively ventilated patients (or patients with a bypassed airway), the airway has minimal ability to humidify inspired air, so delivering Optimal Humidity is crucial and mandated by clinical guidelines.3

Using a heated humidifier minimizes instrumental dead space, supporting reduction of tidal volumes and pressures and facilitating a lung protective ventilation strategy.4,5
Noninvasive ventilation

For patients receiving noninvasive ventilation, clinical guidelines suggest that the use of heated humidification supports patient comfort and may improve therapy tolerance.3

While none of the airway mucosa is bypassed, heating and humidifying higher flow rates of dry inspired gas supports secretion clearance and can reduce sensations of airway dryness.6–8
Nasal high flow

For patients on nasal high flow (NHF) or high flow oxygen therapy (HFOT), heated, humidified gas is fundamental to the comfortable delivery of high flow rates.9,10

Airway hydration is widely accepted as one of the key mechanisms of action associated with the therapy, and heated humidification is inherent to its success.10–12
 

Humidification and respiratory support devices

Working alongside the continuum of care.
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare offers a comprehensive range of humidified solutions across the respiratory care continuum.



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