Therapy Overview

Optimal Humidity Optimizes Airway Defense and Ventilation

The delivery of Optimal Humidity to an intubated infant is crucial for growth and development.

In mimicking the natural physiological conditioning of the airways with Optimal Humidity, this helps with the mucociliary clearance that is compromised by an endotracheal or tracheostomy tube.


This optimizes the infant’s:

• Growth and development
• Airway defense
• Airway patency
• Lung function
• Work of breathing

When invasive ventilation is supported with Optimal Humidity the risks of intubation are reduced, and growth and development supported.


When Optimal Humidity is used during Invasive Ventilation, gases are conditioned to body temperature, 37 °C, and fully saturated with 44 mg/L of water vapor. This is the level at which mucociliary function is preserved. If the airway mucosa is exposed to humidity levels below Optimal Humidity, dysfunction will occur.

Read more in our Therapy Overview brochure.

BENEFITS OF INVASIVE VENTILATION WITH OPTIMAL HUMIDITY
Infant	Clinician
Increases airway defense, reducing risk of infection	Provides the best level of patient care
Increases patency of endotracheal tubes	PEEP can be used during surfactant delivery
Increases sputum clearance	Suctioning can become more effective
Prevents airway drying	May reduce institutional cost through effective patient care
Increases lung compliance
Reduces lung resistance
Decreases work of breathing
Decreases lung dysfunction
Aids thermoregulation

Click here to view key clinical references.