Measurement of Expiratory Gas Temperature in Intubated Patients to Estimate Expiratory Absolute Humidity
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Expiratory gases temperature.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Mechanical Ventilator Care. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Canada
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
Adequate humidification is essential for intubated patients because dry medical gases can cause thick secretions and dangerous endotracheal tube blockages. A clear correlation exists between exhaled and inhaled humidity delivered by heat and moisture exchanger. The objective of this study is to measure the temperature of exhaled gases in intubated patients in order to accurately calculate the absolute humidity during the expiratory phase. These data will allow for a more accurate reproduction of real clinical conditions during bench testing and will improve the assessment of heat and moisture exchanger performance device evaluation.
Detailed description
Previous clinical studies suggest that real expiratory humidity in intubated patients is close to 35 mg H₂O/L, with expiratory temperatures around 32-33 °C or slightly lower. However, data are limited, heterogeneous, and often derived from anesthetized patients. Therefore, accurate measurement of expiratory temperature in intensive care patients under normothermia and across varying body temperatures is necessary to define realistic simulation standards and ensure reliable heat and moisture exchanger performance evaluation on a bench. A relationship between expiratory gases temperature and expiratory humidity exist.
Interventions
- Other Expiratory gases temperature
Measure expiratory gas temperature immediately before the passive humidifier in intubated ICU patients and evaluate the relationship between body temperature and expiratory temperature.
Primary outcome measures
- Expiratory gas temperature [Time frame: H0, up to 60 minutes after inclusion]
- Relationship between body temperature and expiratory temperature. [Time frame: H0, up to 60 minutes after inclusion]
Secondary outcome measures (1)
- Estimate expiratory absolute humidity based on measured temperature [Time frame: H0, up to 60 minutes after inclusion]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Adults (≥18 years)
- Intubated and mechanically ventilated in the intensive care unite
- Using passive humidification (Heat and Moisture exchanger)
Exclusion criteria
- PEEP set < 12 cmH₂O
- Inhaled nitric oxide therapy
- Tracheostomy
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
Study locations
Canada · 1 center
- Insitut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Quebec - Universite Laval — Québec
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07420673 · 2026-4543