Comparative Efficacy of Humidifiers for Noninvasive Infant Respiratory Support

Abstract Delivery of cold, dry air to infants while supporting their breathing can lead hypothermia in addition irritating and damaging sensitive nares negatively impacting outcomes with these therapies. In high resource settings, electric heated humidifiers are used mitigate this problem. many resource-constrained passive nonelectric bubbling instead used. We here compare the efficacy conventional humidification, custom-built low cost humidification a control no humidification. hospital patient room (temperature 22 °C, humidity 50%), temperature delivered simulated lung via BC161-10 Fisher Paykel bubble continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system were measured (Delivered CPAP: 5 cm H2O; flowrate varied from 4 8 liters per minute (LPM) 2 LPM increments.) As was LPM, relative (standard deviation) each humidifier as follows: 10% (3.6%), bubbler 44% (3.7%), 67% (1.7%), 91% (0.86%). Delivered 38 °C (0.21 °C) versus 33 for all other setups. Conventional heating is more effective than provides an intermediate degree Through further improvement concept inspiratory circuit sensor based element, yet solution could be developed.