Mtm. De Araujo et al., Heated humidification or face mask to prevent upper airway dryness during continuous positive airway pressure therapy, CHEST, 117(1), 2000, pp. 142-147
Citations number
26
Categorie Soggetti
Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems","Cardiovascular & Hematology Research
Study objectives: The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate the way
in which nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy influenc
es the relative humidity (rH) of inspired air; and (2) to assess the impact
on rH of the addition of an integrated heated humidifier or a full face ma
sk to the CPAP circuitry.
Design: The studies were performed in 25 patients with obstructive sleep ap
nea syndrome receiving long-term nasal CPAP therapy and complaining of nasa
l discomfort. During CPAP administration, temperature and rH were measured
in the mask either during a night's sleep for 8 patients or during a day ti
me study in which the effects of mouth leaks were simulated in 17 patients
fitted with either a nasal mask (with or without humidification) or a face
mask alone,
Setting: University hospital sleep disorders center.
Measurements and results: Compared with the values obtained with CPAP alone
, integrated heated humidification significantly, increased rH during the s
leep recording, both when the mouth was closed (60 +/- 14% to 81 +/- 14%, p
< 0.01) and during mouth leaks (43 +/- 12% to 64 +/- 8%, p < 0.01), During
the dal-time study, a significant decrease in rH was observed with Cp,yp a
lone. Compared with the values measured during spontaneous breathing withou
t CP;UP (80 +/- 2%), the mean rH was 63 +/- 9% (p < 0.01) with the mouth cl
osed and 39 +/- 9% (p < 0.01) with the mouth open, The addition of heated h
umidification to CP;IP prevented rH changes when the mouth was closed (82 /- 12%), but did not fully prevent the rH decrease during simulation of mou
th leaks (63 +/- 9%) compared with the control period (80 +/- 2%, p < 0.01)
, Finally, attachment of a face mask to the CPAP circuitry prevented rH cha
nges both with the mouth;th closed (82 +/- 9%) and with the mouth open (84
+/- 8%),
Conclusions: These data indicate that inhaled air dryness during CPAP thera
py can be significantly attenuated by heated humidification, even during mo
uth leaks, and cart be totally prevented by using a face mask.