Anaesthesia Coffee Break Humidity, measurement and why it's necessary for ventilated patients
May 29, 2022
Discover the essential role of humidity in anaesthesia practice. The hosts break down absolute and relative humidity, explaining how they're measured and their significance. Learn about different hygrometers and their functions, alongside practical implications for patient comfort. Explore the importance of airway humidity and the effects of under- or over-humidification. Plus, a comparison of humidification devices reveals insights into passive and active systems. Tune in for a fascinating look at how humidity impacts healthcare!
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Absolute Vs Relative Humidity
- Absolute humidity measures the mass of water vapor per volume and is temperature-independent.
- Relative humidity is the percentage of that mass relative to saturation at the current temperature.
Saturation Capacity Increases With Temperature
- Saturated air holds more water at higher temperatures, so saturation capacity rises with temperature.
- Fully saturated air at 37°C contains about 44 g/m3, versus ~17 g/m3 at 20°C.
Broome Humidity And Facial Hair
- Stan jokes that Lahiru's facial hair grew longer since moving to humid Broome as a humorous example of hair hygrometer principles.
- They link hair lengthening with humidity increasing hydrogen-bond breakdown in hair fibers.