Airway Heat and Humidity during Endotracheal Intubation: I. Inspiration of Arid Gases via a Non-Rebreathing Circuit

Abstract

Investigation into the patterns of respiratory heat and moisture exchange in intubated patients, under general anaesthesia, is detailed. This paper gives the inspiratory and expiratory temperatures and humidities found in a non-rebreathing circuit near the valve and near the trachea. A model lung was constructed to control and determine factors which have been implicated in playing a major part in heat and moisture homeostasis within the respiratory tract. Laboratory and clinical results are compared.