Effects of a heat and moisture exchanger and a heated humidifier on respiratory mucus in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation

Abstract

Ours results indicate that air humidification with either HME or HHW at 32 degrees C (89.6 degrees F) has similar effects on mucus rheologic properties, contact angle, and transportability by cilia in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation, except for transportability by cough, which diminished after 72 hrs of mechanical ventilation in the HME group (p = .0441).