Rain-out in Humdifiers

elizabells, BSN, RN · May 6, 2008

We recently switched to the FischerPaykel humidifiers and are getting a TON more rainout. They took out the little water traps because we use so much NCPAP and it was pulling on the baby's noses.

The only advice I have is make sure the end of the temp sensor wire isn't inside the isolette. We fussed and stamped our feet for a while, but eventually we just got used to it and empty the tubing more often.

Sweeper933 · May 6, 2008

We recently switched to the FischerPaykel humidifiers and are getting a TON more rainout. They took out the little water traps because we use so much NCPAP and it was pulling on the baby's noses.
The only advice I have is make sure the end of the temp sensor wire isn't inside the isolette. We fussed and stamped our feet for a while, but eventually we just got used to it and empty the tubing more often.

Same here. We just got used to making sure to empty out the tubing before we move a baby. I always feel terrible when the poor kid gets a nose full of water...

PageRespiratory! · May 6, 2008

I have odserved large amount of water accumulation in the ventilator tubings,eventhough the water trapper is empty.this occludes the pressure and sometimes baby itself may be figting or the flow sensor may be not functioning.How can we prevent this?Our humdifiers are Fischer and Paykel.

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What temp is the heater set at? Are the circuits heated as well? Most likely they are, setting the heater itself a degree or two lower than the circuit will significantly decrease condensation in the vent circuit. We used to set the heater at 31 - 32C while the circuit was pretset at 33C. Of course if its a newer FP, you may only be able to use the presets. Also, this might sound dumb, but make sure the water trap is at the lowest spot in the circuit. Excessive rain out in the tube may start auto triggering mandatory breaths as well. (not on NCPAP obviously.)

Sweeper933 · May 7, 2008

We use the presets the FP gives us. 31c for highflow cannulas, and 37c for NCPAP and vents.

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · May 7, 2008

Turn up the temperature in the pod. The colder the air around the tubing, the more rainout.

dawngloves, BSN, RN · May 7, 2008

Turn up the temperature in the pod. The colder the air around the tubing, the more rainout.

Yeah, but then your co workers complain they are too hot. :lol2:

elizabells, BSN, RN · May 7, 2008

Yeah, but then your co workers complain they are too hot.

Oooh, thermostat wars. One of ours actually devolved into an incredible exchange of really racist generalizations.

It does present an interesting quandary, though: PPHN kids generally need the room cooler, because they're so sweaty. But they're also usually still on CPAP, at a minimum. So what do you do with the thermostat?

ECMOismygame · May 9, 2008

Yeah, but then your co workers complain they are too hot.

I agree, the majority of NICU nurses are hot.... :up:

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · May 9, 2008

I agree, the majority of NICU nurses are hot....

Thanks, VentJock! :hehe:

corks · May 10, 2008

For nNCPAP we run the tubing through the length of the incubator and set the temp control to 40 and the chamber control to minus 3. We have found that reduces rainout.