Humidicare - an implementation study of a novel HME safety device designed to prevent ventilator circuit occlusion due to inadvertent dual humidification.

Mechanical ventilation bypasses the protective mechanisms of the upper respiratory tract which are designed to heat and humidify inspired air to 37 °C and 44 mg HO/L respectively. Artificial humidification systems are therefore incorporated into ventilation circuits to condition cold and dry medical gases before they reach the lower respiratory tract and cause patient harm. Commonly either a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) or a heated humidifier (HH) are utilised for this purpose, however the inadvertent simultaneous use of both devices within the same circuit can cause critical airway occlusion within 24 h.