TI ON FOR RESPIRATORY CARE PRO

To aid respiratory care professionals in determining the most appropriate humidification device for mechanically ventilated patients, this article reviews humidification principles, standards regarding humidification devices, currently available humidification options, indications and contraindications for their use, and controversies related to optimum humidification. Heated pass-over and wick hu-midifiers, active heat and moisture exchangers (HMEs), and conventional heat and moisture exchang-ers (HMEs) are addressed. While the controversy regarding optimum humidity for the mechanically ventilated patient remains unresolved, a review of existing studies indicates that both heated humidi-fiers (HHs) and active HMEs can deliver fully saturated gas at body temperature, eliminating the hu-midity deficit. When used correctly and in the absence of contraindications, conventional HMEs ma