Humidification difficulties in two tracheostomized children

Effective humidification Is sometimes difficult to achieve in children when normal mechanisms are by passed by having a tracheostomy in situ. The humi dification options available in the paediatric population are heat and mois ture exchangers (HMEs) and heated humidifiers, both of which are reviewed a nd discussed. In some circumstances the humidification achieved with HMEs i s inadequate. We outline the hospital and subsequent home management of two infants, both with tracheostomies in situ, who unsuccessfully trialed HMEs and subsequently achieved effective humidification with heated humidifiers . We propose that heated humidifiers would help more tracheostomized infant s who are suffering from similar problems.