humidification of inspired gas

Q: What are the few advantages of humidifying the oxygen via High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC)?

Answer: It is standard practice to warm and humidify inspired oxygen to body temperature, especially when delivering high-flow oxygen, typically above 40 L/minute. This increased humidification serves three main purposes:

• increased water content in mucus, which facilitates secretion removal
• decreases the work of breathing (WOB), and 
• avoids airway desiccation and so prevents epithelial injury 

#respiratory

References:

1. Williams R, Rankin N, Smith T, et al. Relationship between the humidity and temperature of inspired gas and the function of the airway mucosa. Crit Care Med 1996; 24:1920.

2. Hasani A, Chapman TH, McCool D, et al. Domiciliary humidification improves lung mucociliary clearance in patients with bronchiectasis. Chron Respir Dis 2008; 5:81.