Friday December 19, 2008
Humidification during Mechanical Ventilation

Q: What is the desirable/optimum temperature for humidification to deliver at trachea during Mechanical Ventilation?


Answer: 33 ± 2°C

When the upper airway is bypassed, humidification during mechanical ventilation is necessary to prevent hypothermia, inspissation of airway secretions, destruction of airway epithelium, and atelectasis. This may be accomplished using either a heated humidifier or a heat and moisture exchanger (HME). The device should provide a minimum of 30 mg H2O/L of delivered gas at 33 ± 2°C.

High temperature alarm should be set no higher than 37°C, and the low temperature alarm should be set no lower than 30°C.