A comparison study on the respiratory symptoms between patients receiving low-to-mid flow humidified and dry oxygen by nasal cannula / 中华护理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the effect of humidification of oxygen delivered by nasal cannula on the respiratory symptoms. Method A total of 540 patients receiving low-to-mid flow oxygen therapy (<4L/min) by nasal cannula for more than 12 hours were assigned to receive humidified (n=235) or dry (n=305)oxygen. While 226 patients receiving a low-to-mid flow oxygen therapy for more than 24 hours received humidified or dry oxygen respectively. The patients' respiratory symptoms were observed and recorded. Results Dryness over naso-pharyngeal region was the only symptom reported by patients in this study. There was no significant difference on the rate of dryness over naso-pharyngeal region between patients receiving humidified oxygen and patients receiving dry oxygen (P>0.05) either in the same patients when receiving dry and humidified oxygen (P>0.05). Conclusion Routine humidification is not necessary in low-to-mid flow oxygen therapy by nasal cannula.