Fisher & Paykel Healthcare cares for patients across the respiratory care continuum, including neonates, infants and children. We offer a comprehensive humidified respiratory solution for all therapies within that care continuum.
Relative humidity (RH) takes in the water contained in the gas, compared with how much water it can hold before the vapor condenses to liquid water. RH is measured as a percentage. 100% RH: If the same volume of gas holds 44 mg of water vapor, it is full or saturated with water vapor, so its RH is 44 mg / 44 mg or 100% RH. 25% RH: If a liter of gas holds a maximum 44 mg of water vapor, it will be a quarter full and contain only 11 mg of water vapor, so its RH is 11 mg / 44 mg or 25% RH.
At birth, newborns are exposed to immediate cold stress and heat loss. Premature infants may also have limited heat production capabilities, along with an increased need to conserve limited energy reserves.19 Infants need energy for growth and development. Therefore, assisting in thermoregulation is important. There is a range of interventions such as ensuring a neutral thermal environment, drying towels and blankets, a radiant warmer, or skin-to-skin contact. Humidifying delivered therapies is important also, to promote conservation of energy. When inadequate levels of humidity are inhaled, water vapor is drawn from the airway mucosa until the inspired gas has reached 37 °C, 44 mg/L H2O. The energy cost to the infant for each gram of water removed from the mucosa is 0.58 kCal (2.4 kJ).20
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