Description
Heat and Moisture Exchange (HME) is a medical device used to provide humidified and heated air to patients with breathing difficulties during mechanical ventilation. The HME consists of a filter and a humidifier that captures the warm, humid gas exhaled by the patient and releases it back into the respiratory system when the patient inhales.
The benefits of using an HME include maintaining normal lung function, preventing dry airways and impaired mucociliary clearance, and reducing the risk of cross-infection by capturing bacteria and viruses in the filter. HMEs are typically used in intensive care units, operating rooms, and emergency departments. They come in different sizes and shapes to fit different patients and ventilatory devices. Before use, the HME needs to be checked for proper functioning and replaced according to the manufacturer’s guidelines or clinical indicators.
In summary, the HME is an important medical device that improves respiratory care during mechanical ventilation.
| Recommended Tidal Volum(ml) | >75 |
| Moisture Loss*(mg H20/l air) | 9.2(@ Vt 500ml) |
| Resistance(Pa) | 50 at 30 l/min |
| Bacterial Filtration Efficiency*(%) | / |
| Viral Filtration Efficiency*(%) | / |
