Humidification of inspired gases in mechanical ventilation in children <b>[Abstract in English]</b>

Abstract

Aims: To present the more utilized types of humidifiers in mechanical ventilation circuits, mainly in pediatric patients, and to analyze their advantages and disadvantages. Source of data: Review of the scientific literature through a PubMed/Medline search, emphasizing the words humidification, mechanical ventilation, children, heated humidifiers and heat and moisture exchangers. Also included were book chapters about the subject. Summary of the findings: During mechanical ventilation, humidification and warming of inspired gases are required to prevent the effects of cool and dry gases on the tracheobronquial epithelium. The most used devices are heated humidifiers and heat and moisture exchangers. Conclusions: There are no consensus about the better device to humidification and warming of gases, mainly in pediatrics, but we observed the trend to use the heat and moisture exchangers, because of simplicity and low expense. New research is needed to optimize the heat and moisture exchangers, reducing the resistance and dead-space and increasing their efficacy. KEY WORDS: RESPIRATION, ARTIFICIAL; VENTILATORS, MECHANICAL; CHILD; HUMIDITY; REWARMING; HEAT TRANSFERENCE.