[Tracheal conditioning after administration of water via vaporizer or hand-spray]

Universitäts-HNO-Klinik Ulm. ajnirozsasi@aol.com

INTRODUCTION: In this investigation, a comparison is made between tracheal conditioning after use of a vaporizing humidifier and use of a tracheal spray in tracheotomized patients. METHODS: Humidity of the upper tracheal segment before and after administration of nebulized or sprayed water was measured. RESULTS: After use of both the vaporizer and the hand-spray, the absolute humidity in the trachea increased significantly. After end of humidification, the humidity decreased significantly slower after use of the hand-spray than after vaporizer. DISCUSSION: Both methods of airway humidification increase tracheal humidity and conditioning. Administration of hand-sprayed water into the trachea seems to be longer efficient on tracheal humidity. The tracheal hand-spray is an effective and easy-to-use method of tracheal humidification for tracheotomies and laryngectomies.

PMID: 17171581 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]