Dual-focus Survey with an Emphasis on Heated Humidification Systems

Under normal circumstances the upper airway and respiratory tract play a crucial role in humidifying and warming inhaled air, a process known as inspired gas conditioning. This process is essential for effective gas conditioning and mitigating the potential risk of damaging the structure and function of the respiratory epithelium. Airway instrumentation, such as the use of an orotracheal tube or tracheostomy cannula, interferes with the physiological conditioning of inspired gas. Furthermore, the administration of cold, dry medical gases, together with the high flows experienced by patients under invasive mechanical ventilation (IVM) or non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV), exacerbate this unfavorable condition. Therefore, the incorporation of an external device to condition the delivered gas becomes imperative, even in short-term interventions. There are different devices to condition the inhaled gas, basically passive humidification systems (HMEF) and active (or heated) systems. Considering the humidification capacity and advantages and disadvantages, both passive and active systems are suitable for conditioning the inhaled gas. The hyphotesis of this study is that health teams in Latin America have limited knowledge regarding humidification systems, both from the technical aspects of implementation and from the clinic. OBJECTIVES Primary aim: Develop an instrument to evaluate knowledge about humidification systems among different health professionals in intensive care units (ICU). Describe the knowledge about humidification systems among different health professionals in intensive care units (ICU). Secondary aim: Compare knowledge about humidification systems between different countries. Compare knowledge about humidification systems between different specialties. Compare knowledge about humidification systems in different age groups.