A Patient-focused Education Program for Respiratory Care Professionals

Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been shown to reduce both morbidity and mortality in this population when compared with endotracheal intubation. NIV may also be used in a host of other diseases including cardiogenic pulmonary edema, post-extubation hypoxemia, and chronic ventilatory failure associated with muscular weakness. Ancillary therapy (e.g. aerosol therapy, antibiotics, fluid management, and secretion clearance) also plays an important role in successful NIV. Humidification during NIV is poorly understood and there are no current standards or recommendations in this area. This is an issue ripe for further investigation, as humidification could play an important role in the success of NIV. Patient comfort, secretion removal, and the efficiency of ventilation may all be affected by the adequacy of humidification. In this article, registered respiratory therapist, Richard Branson, discusses current knowledge and recent evidence with regard to humidification within the NIV setting.