Module 5: Humidity And Aerosol Therapy Flashcards
What is the primary goal of humidity therapy?
Maintain normal physiologic conditions in the lower airway
What is the requirement for supplemental humidification?
Administration of medical dry gases of 4L/min or greater.
What are the risks of inhaling dry gases?
Increase viscosity of secretions and impairs mucciliary motility (structural) and increases airway irritability.
What happens when we lose humidification?
Immediate heat and water loss.
What is used for upper airway inflation?
Cool humidification.
What are some indicators for cool humidity?
Post extubation edema
Croup
Epiglottitis
What are the indicators for warm humidification?
Hypothermia (raises core body temperature)
How is bronchospasm treated?
Warm humidification
What is another indication for warm humidity?
Bypassed airway from an artificial airway
(Endotracheal tube or Tracheostomy tube)
What are the clinical signs and symptoms of inadequate airway humidification?
Atelectasis
Dry, nonproductive cough
Increased airway resistance (RAW)
What are three clinical signs and symptoms of inadequate airway humidification?
High risk of infection
Increased work of breathing
Patient, complaint of substernal pain and airway dryness
What is the concern behind thick, dehydrated secretions (inspissated)?
A clinical sign of inadequate airway humidification
How do you increase humidity output of a humidifier?
Increase the temperature of either the water or the gas
What are the different types of humidifiers?
Active and Passive
How do you treat a patient with an active humidifier?
Actively add heat or water or both to the device -patient interface
How does a passive humidifier work?
Recycle exhaled heat and humidity from the patient
What do active humidifiers typically include?
🫧Bubble humidifiers
Passover humidifiers
Nebulizers of bland aerosols and vaporizers
What is the purpose of a simple unseated bubble humidifier?
Humidify gases in the oronasal airway
How can you protect tubing from kinking up or being obstructed?
Simple pressure relief valve or pop off (2psig) to warn (acts as an alarm system) of flow-path obstruction and to prevent bottle from bursting
Why are unseated bubble humidifiers used for with a nasal cannula in hospitals?
To prevent gas from being delivered (>4L/min) or at the patient’s request (nasal dryness and irritation) and are of limited effectiveness at flows above 10 L/min
What are the three types of active humidifiers?
Simple reservoir, wick, and membrane type
What is the purpose of a simple reservoir type? (Active humidifier)
Typically used to heat fluids with mechanical ventilation
(Directs gas over a surface of a volume of water)
What is the purpose of a wick type? (Active humidifier)
Increase surface area and enhances evaporation by incorporating an absorbent material partially submerged in a water reservoir that is surrounded by a heating element
Also absorb material increases surfaces surface area for dry air to interface with heated water
What is the purpose of a membrane type? (Active humidifiers)
Separate water from gas stream by means of hydrophobic membrane, no bubble activity is present
How does a membrane type work? (Active humidifier)
Water heats up, it evaporates, causing the water vapor to pass through the membrane into the gas stream
Contraindication for HMEs
Presence of thick, copious, or bloody secretions
Presence of a large leak around an artificial airway (Endotracheal Tube- ETT or Tracheostomy Tube)
Patients minute ventilation (VE) exceeds 10 L/min
What are heated humidifiers used for?
Used primarily for patients with bypassed upper airways and/or receiving long term receiving mechanical ventilation
What are some problems that arise with condensation?
Pose risks to patient and caregivers
Can waste a lot of water
Can occlude gas flow through circuit
Can be aspirated
Problem can be minimized with use of water traps and heated circuits, by positioning circuits so it drains condensate away from patient, and checking humidifier and nebulizer often
What is a common cross contamination risk when using humidity therapy devices?
Water in circuit can be a source of bacterial colonization
When does the circuit need to be changed?
Frequent change is not needed to reduce chance of nosocomial infection