Application of Warming Humidification and Atomization Inhalation Technique for Patients with Endotracheal Intubation before Extubation

  Objective  To evaluation the airway management effect of mechanically ventilation patients at offline stage with the implementation of T tube warming humidification.

  Methods  Sixty critically ill patients using mechanical ventilation and meeting the offline indications after treatment were randomly assigned to receive humidification with T tube (control group, 30 cases) or warming humidification with T tube (study group, 30 cases). The control group used T tube connected with the adjustable infusion device to control the humidification fluid velocity, whereas the study group used a heater placed at adjustable infusion set 10 cm from T tube to maintain the heat and humidity. Patients were observed for sputum viscosity, irritating cough, airway bleeding, phlegm scab formation, success rate of extubation, oxygen saturation, and average time with endotracheal intubation.

  Results  Compared with the control group, the study group had significantly decreased sputum viscosity(P=0.03), irritating cough (P=0.04), airway bleeding (P=0.01), phlegm scab formation (P=0.02), increased oxygen saturation (P=0.03), and shorter average time with endotracheal intubation (P=0.01). The success rate of extubation between two groups had no significant difference (P=0.44).

  Conclusion  T tube warming humidification in mechanically ventilated patients at offline stage can achieve good airway management by reducing airway irritation, decreasing sputum production, and enhancing the effectiveness of oxygen therapy.