Heat & Moisture Exchangers (HMEs) ESSENTIAL Info! Life with a Vent скачать в хорошем качестве

Heat & Moisture Exchangers (HMEs) ESSENTIAL Info! Life with a Vent

If you have a tracheotomy tube, laryngectomy tube or use a ventilator to breathe, there is a small device you should know about. It is called a heat and moisture exchanger abbreviated as HME. These small devices are essential in keeping your airways moist, prevent mucus plugging and protect your airways from dust and air pollutants. Join me this week as I discuss essential information you need to know about heat and moisture exchangers. #lifewithavent #hme #respiratorycare The basic components of heat and moisture exchangers are foam and paper. These act as a condensation and absorption surface. The material is often impregnated with hygroscopic salts such as calcium chloride, to enhance the water-retaining capacity. HMEs are worn to prevent moisture from escaping the airways. As a person breathes out, the exhaled air passes through the HME. The HME captures the moisture from the air. When a person breathes in, the air passes through the HME. The moisture retained in the HME hydrates the air as it enters the airways. **Although HMEs are able to filter out large particles from the air, wearing an HME does not compensate for the loss of upper airway filtration of smaller particles such as bacteria and viruses. The pores of the HME filter are larger than the diameter of the infectious particles. Wearing an HME will not protect a person’s airways from viruses, bacteria and fungal spores.** The HME should not be worn if the person with a ventilator, tracheostomy tube or laryngectomy tube is connected to a humidifier. Wearing an HME while running humidification will cause the HME to become saturated with moisture. The moist surface will attract bacteria and will create an ideal location for bacteria to grow. Some people are able to wear an HME all day and all night. They do not have any problems with their airways drying out. For me, running the ventilator without my humidifier is very hard on my body. My airways dry out quickly and my sputum becomes very thick and may end up blocking my tracheotomy tube. I have had some scary experiences in which my tracheotomy tube became completely blocked with sputum while using an HME. The sputum dried out and was extremely difficult to clear from my tracheostomy tube. For this reason, I try use the humidifier as much as possible on my ventilator. An HME is a great device to use if using a humidifier is not possible, but I would suggest if using a humidifier is possible, please use the humidifier instead of using the HME. For more fun and adventures please check out my blog: https://mitowarrior.blogspot.com Instagram:   / lifewithavent   MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lifewithaventil... Facebook:   / life-with-a-vent-113121960609175   Email: life.with.a.vent@gmail.com Affiliated YouTube Channel:    / godismystrength