Heated humidification

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of different endoscopic endonasal approaches (EEAs) on nasal airflow and heating and humidification in patients with pituitary adenoma (PA) by computational fluid dynamics (CFD). METHODS: A three-dimensional pre-surgical model (Pre) of the nasal cavity and 6 that were post-EEA surgery were created from computed tomography scans as follows: small posterior septectomy (0.5 cm, sPS), middle posterior septectomy (1.5 cm, mPS), large posterior septectomy (2...

BACKGROUND: Indoor exposure to dry air during heating periods has been associated with dryness and irritation symptoms of the upper respiratory airways and the skin. The irritated or damaged mucous membrane poses an important entry port for pathogens causing respiratory infections. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness of interventions that increase indoor air humidity in order to reduce or prevent dryness symptoms of the eyes, the skin and the upper respiratory tract (URT) or URT infections, at work and in educational settings...

Portable ultrasonic humidifiers are frequently used in heating rooms to ease air dryness. However, it has also posed serious health concerns such as "humidifier fever" because the bioaerosol concentration and community in the humidified space may alter quickly before the occupants could even notice. We compared the microbial proliferation rates in the humidifiers' reservoirs filled with three commonly used water types and investigated the impacts of the ultrasonic humidifiers on the temporal concentration, size distribution, and community variations of indoor bacterial and fungal aerosols during two-week humidification...

Recent reports on the production of hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) on the surface of condensed water microdroplets without the addition of catalysts or additives have sparked significant interest. The underlying mechanism is thought to be ultrahigh electric fields at the air-water interface; smaller droplets present larger interfacial areas and produce higher (detectable) H2 O2 yields. To gain insights into this phenomenon, we performed condensation experiments and quantified H2 O2 formation as a function of the vapor source...

As a byproduct of desalination plants, brine is increasingly becoming a threat to the environment, and the design of zero-liquid discharge (ZLD) systems is gaining increasing attention. Existing ZLD systems are limited by a high energy intensity and high plant costs of their crystallizers. This study proposes a novel crystallization method based on the humidification-dehumidification (HDH) process, which exhibits the advantages of a low energy consumption, low component costs and a reduced scaling and fouling potential...

This study focuses on energy and entropy analysis to theoretically investigate the performance of a pilot scale dual heated humidification-dehumidification (HDH) desalination system. Two cases of HDH systems are considered in the analysis. The first case is a dual heated (DH) cycle consisting of 1.59 kW air heater and 1.42 kW water heater with a heat rate ratio of 0.89 (CAOW-DH-I). Whereas the second case is a dual heated HDH cycle comprising of 1.59 kW air heater and 2.82 kW water heater with a heat rate ratio of 1...

BACKGROUND: Humidification of inspiratory gases is mandatory in all mechanically ventilated patients in ICUs, either with heated humidifiers (HHs) or with heat and moisture exchangers (HMEs). In patients with COVID-19, the choice of the humidification device may have relevant impact on patients' management as demonstrated in recent studies. We reported data from 2 ICUs using either HME or HH. METHODS: Data from patients with COVID-19 requiring invasive mechanical ventilation during the first wave in 2 ICUs in Québec City were reviewed...

OBJECTIVE: to discuss in the scientific literature the strategies used to prevent hypothermia in newborns undergoing surgical procedures. METHODS: this is an integrative literature review, with structured search in April and May 2020 in 08 databases, using the descriptors: Hypothermia; Surgical Procedures, Operative; Infant, Newborn; Protocols. Four primary studies were selected and analyzed using three instruments to assess the methodological quality of the Joanna Briggs Institute and content analysis...

BACKGROUND: Total rhinectomy is an invasive procedure that significantly impairs the intranasal turbulence, humidification and heating of inspired air. The use of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty for the treatment of sleep-disordered breathing disorders such as primary snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea has diminished over the past years because of the emergence of less invasive procedures and alternative therapeutic options. This clinical record presents the treatment of a long-term side effect of total rhinectomy using uvulopalatopharyngoplasty...

Airway care interventions may prevent accumulation of airway secretions and promote their evacuation, but evidence is scarce. Interventions include heated humidification, nebulization of mucolytics and/or bronchodilators, manual hyperinflation and use of mechanical insufflation-exsufflation (MI-E). Our aim is to identify current airway care practices for invasively ventilated patients in intensive care units (ICU) in the Netherlands. A self-administered web-based survey was sent to a single pre-appointed representative of all ICUs in the Netherlands...

OBJECTIVE: There is controversy regarding the influence of humidification systems upon the incidence of respiratory infections associated to invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). An evaluation was made of the differences in the incidence of pneumonia and tracheobronchitis associated to mechanical ventilation (VAP and VAT, respectively) with passive and active humidification. DESIGN: A retrospective pre-post quasi-experimental study was carried out. SETTING: A polyvalent ICU with 14 beds...

IMPORTANCE: During respiratory disease outbreaks such as the COVID-19 pandemic, aerosol-generating procedures, including tracheostomy, are associated with the risk of viral transmission to health care workers. OBJECTIVE: To quantify particle aerosolization during tracheostomy surgery and tracheostomy care and to evaluate interventions that minimize the risk of viral particle exposure. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This comparative effectiveness study was conducted from August 2020 to January 2021 at a tertiary care academic institution...

BACKGROUND: Differences in physiology of ARDS have been described between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. This study aimed to compare initial values and longitudinal changes in respiratory system compliance (CRS ), oxygenation parameters and ventilatory ratio (VR) in patients with COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 pulmonary ARDS matched on oxygenation. METHODS: 135 patients with COVID-19 ARDS from two centers were included in a physiological study; 767 non-COVID-19 ARDS from a clinical trial were used for the purpose of at least 1:2 matching...

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Little is known about the current use of long-term home noninvasive ventilation (LTHNIV) in restrictive thoracic diseases, including chest wall disorders and neuromuscular disorders (NMD). This study aimed to capture the pattern of LTHNIV in patients with restrictive thoracic diseases via a web-based international survey. METHODS: The survey involved European Respiratory Society (ERS) Assembly 2.02 (NIV-dedicated group), from October to December 2019...

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for alternative short-term, reliable means to aid in the treatment of patients requiring ventilatory support. Concurrent aerosol drug delivery is often prescribed to such patients. As such, this study examines one such short-term option, the disposable gas-powered transport ventilator to effectively deliver aerosol therapy. Factors such as aerosol generator type, patient breathing pattern, humidification and nebuliser position within the respiratory circuit were also examined...

BACKGROUND: Due to the heat and moisture exchanger's (HME) breathing resistance, laryngectomized patients cannot always use an (optimal) HME during physical exercise. We propose a novel HME cassette concept with adjustable "bypass," to provide adjustment between different breathing resistances within one device. METHODS: Under standardized conditions, the resistance and humidification performance of a high resistance/high humidification HME (XM) foam in a cassette with and without bypass were compared to a lower resistance/lesser humidification HME (XF) foam in a closed cassette...

Mechanical ventilation bypasses the protective mechanisms of the upper respiratory tract which are designed to heat and humidify inspired air to 37 °C and 44 mg H2 O/L respectively. Artificial humidification systems are therefore incorporated into ventilation circuits to condition cold and dry medical gases before they reach the lower respiratory tract and cause patient harm. Commonly either a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) or a heated humidifier (HH) are utilised for this purpose, however the inadvertent simultaneous use of both devices within the same circuit can cause critical airway occlusion within 24 h...

In recent years, atomization inhalation therapy has been more and more commonly used in patients with mechanical ventilation. However, the establishment of artificial airway has changed the environment and mode of aerosol delivery. Currently, Expert consensus on atomization inhalation during mechanical ventilation has been established to guide clinical practice. However, many ventilators do not support the treatment of aerosol inhalation due to the tedious procedures and numerous drugs. At the same time, the therapeutic effect of atomization inhalation is affected by many factors, such as ventilator mode selection, parameter setting, heating and humidification, using of artificial nose and filter, etc...

BACKGROUND: Airway humidification methods are commonly used in clinical practice, but no clear consensus exists on which particular method is best suited for specific clinical conditions. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we carried out a quantitative evaluation of three methods commonly used for patients with severe traumatic brain injury (STBI). We recruited 150 patients who received airway humidification after tracheotomy. Subjects were divided into three groups according to the humidification method they received which included oxygen atomizer (OA) group, heat and moisture exchangers (HMEs) group, and heated humidifiers (HHs) group...

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to investigate the effects on nasal heat exchange and humidification of two different surgical techniques for reducing the inferior turbinate under different environmental conditions. METHODS: Virtual surgery using two techniques of turbinate reduction was performed in eight nasal airway obstruction patients. Bilateral nasal airway models for each patient were compared: 1) Pre-operative 2) Post inferior turbinoplasty 3) Post total inferior turbinate resection (ITR)...