
Summary
The purpose of this memo is to evaluate the benefit of heated humidification at a high flow
(AIRVO™ system) in the improvement of bronchial clearing with patients affected by cystic
fibrosis. According this report, the following method was used. First of all, a literature review was
carried out in order to explore the field of humidification. Several points are highlighted :
- The prescription of humidification is empirical,
- Heated humidification is one of the most efficient methods of humidification since it gathers
the optimal conditions (temperature and relative humidity close to physiology),
- The nasal high flow favours humidification,
- Heated humidification improves the mucociliary clearance and optimizes clearing.
Following this analysis of literature, an ideal protocol is proposed. The study will be randomized
and each patient will be his own witness. The patient will alternate draining sessions (30 minutes)
with humidification and draining sessions (30 minutes) without humidification. During this study,
saturation will be evaluated by an oxymetry of pulse, felt of the patient by an analogical visual
scale, the respiratory function by a respiratory functional exploration and the expectorations will be
analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. This protocol could not have been carried out, so an
observational pilot study was set up. The results of this study show that the AIRVO™ system is
efficient in the clear optimization.
To conclued, it would be thus interesting to continue this work since the pilot study made it possible
to set up a feasible protocol.
Key words: humidification - mucociliary transport - clearance – cystic fibrosis – secretions –
physiotherapy