A home care patient receiving long-term O2 therapy at 5 L/min ...

[casperchen82]

A home care patient receiving long-term O2 therapy at 5 L/min complains that her nondisposable humidifier is not bubbling properly.
 
  Upon inspection of the humidifier, you notice hard white deposits in and around the diffusing element. Which of the following would you recommend to this patient?
  a. Stop using the humidifier because there is no need for it at this flow.
  b. Replace the device and fill with distilled water, not tap water.
  c. Increase the flow at night to help clean out the humidifier.
  d. Replace the device and fill with sterile water, not tap water.

Question 2

Which of the following would you recommend as the solution used to fill a bubble humidifier used for home O2 therapy?
 
  a. Sterile water
  b. Distilled water
  c. 0.9 saline
  d. Tap water

[6ana001]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
Otherwise, the porous diffusing element may become occluded. Although complete blockage is unlikely, occlusion of the diffusing element can impair humidification and alter flow.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
Because the mineral content of tap water may be high (hard water), water used in these humidi-fiers should be distilled.

[casperchen82]

Thank you

[6ana001]

Happy to help you