What is Heliox therapy used for?

Asked by: Elaine Vee

The major benefit of heliox comes from its lower density and improvement in flow dynamics and therefore, is primarily used for treatment of upper airway obstructions (intrinsic and extrinsic), croup, and post-extubation stridor.

What are indications for heliox?

INDICATIONS

• lower airways disorders – e.g. severe asthma, severe COPD, bronchiolitis, bronchiectasis, lung cancer.
• extrathoracic or tracheal obstruction – e.g. croup, epiglottitis, foreign body, tumour, tracheal stenosis, tracheomalacia.
• FRC assessment (helium dilution technique)
• decompression sickness.

What is heliox therapy for asthma?

Heliox acts by lowering the resistance to gas flow within the airways and permitting an increase in ventilation. This it does for two main reasons. Firstly, and most importantly, breathing Heliox leads to a reduction in the Reynolds number, converting turbulent flow into more efficient laminar flow.

Is heliox used for COPD?

Another strategy in severe COPD entails changing the physical properties of the gas the patient inspires. Substituting helium for nitrogen results in a lighter carrier gas for oxygen, Heliox, this can be used in conjunction with all conventional treatments including NIV.

How do you give heliox therapy?

Heliox can be administered via a well-fitting face mask at flows high enough to prevent entrainment of room air. The effectiveness of heliox in reducing the density of administered gas and improving laminar airflow depends on the helium concentration of the gas.

What is the side effects of heliox?

Adverse Reactions: Helium therapy for patients with COPD may include a decrease in ventilation, carbon dioxide production, and oxygen consumption. Generally the only hazard of helium in the non-intubated patient includes the change in one’s voice (a temporarily high pitched voice).

How does heliox help breathing?

Heliox is a helium–oxygen gas mixture that reduces work of breathing by decreasing airway resistance by decreasing turbulent flow and thereby decreasing airway resistance.

How does heliox help stridor?

A mixture of helium and oxygen is less dense than room air. This property allows the gas to flow with less turbulence past airway narrowings, thereby decreasing airway resistance and increasing the volume of gas exchange.

Why is BiPAP used for asthma?

Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP), a form of NIV, being able to increase tidal volume, has the advantage of adding external positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) to offset the intrinsic PEEP that builds up during an asthmatic attack, thus further decreasing the work of the inspiratory muscles.

How does helium help asthma?

Heliox, a blend of helium and oxygen, is a low-density gas that has been shown to improve airflow in patients during asthma exacerbations (1–4). In stable asthmatics, others have previously shown that heliox improves the lung deposition of inhaled particles when compared with air (5).

What mask is used in heliox therapy?

Conclusions 1. 3V+R is the ideal facemask to use for optimised heliox delivery.

What does 70/30 heliox mean?

Heliox (mixture of helium and oxygen optimally effective at a 70 : 30 mix) has been shown to improve the delivery and deposition of nebulized albuterol. If a patient requires more than 30% oxygen, it cannot be used. Heliox may be useful in acute severe asthma refractory to conventional treatment.

How do you set up heliox?

There actually comes two clamps. So that when you bring your new cylinder up you put the clamp on you move the regulator over and then you can take the pole. And move the hole.

How is heliox calculated?

When using Heliox, how would you calculate the actual Heliox flow from the observed O2 flow on the flowmeter (10 L/min)? Observed flow on flow meter (10 L/min) X factor (1.8) = 18L/min of actual Heliox flow.