Humidification for CPAP and BiLevel Machines

What is humidification?

A chamber of water can be added to the CPAP or BiLevel machine to warm and moisten the air.

Why use humidification?

The main purpose of humidification is to stop drying of the nasal and/or tracheal mucous membranes. Humidification may, or may not improve comfort and compliance. Humidification can benefit children who have dry mucus membranes or epistaxis. Humidification must be used when CPAP or BiLevel is delivered via tracheostomy.

Care and Maintenance

Boiled and cooled tap water is used in the humidifier chamber. The water in the chamber must be changed every day. The water chamber should be cleaned with warm soapy water once a week.

Set up

The humidifier placement varies amongst devices and may therefore be inside the machine or added as an external device. When filled, the water level must be below the marker for the maximum level on the chamber. The chamber should sit next to the bed and be at a level lower than the child.

Settings

Some humidifiers have a range of settings. A low setting should be used when the room air is warm and moist and a higher setting can be used in cold, dry air. Most often the humidifier is set at level two.

Transport

The humidifier must be emptied before transporting the CPAP or BiLevel, because movement can cause water to spill from the chamber back into the machine where it destroys electrical circuits.

Trouble shooting

If "rainout" (condensation in the tubing) occurs the machine should be stoped, any damp parts allowed to completely dry, the water level checked, the humidification settings reduced, and the machine placed lower than the child. Contact the Respiratory Support Service or manufacturer if problems continue.