Abstract
Ramsey first isolated helium from the mineral cleavite in 1895 [1]. In the mid 1930s, Barach first described its use, in place of nitrogen, as the carrier gas for oxygen [2]. He recommended it as an adjunct to the treatment of respiratory failure, in particular, for obstructive lesions of the larynx, trachea, and airways [1,3,4]. Helium briefly enjoyed widespread use; however, with the outbreak of World War II, supplies became limited and this, coupled with pharmaceutical advances, especially in the field of aerosolized bronchodilators, led to its demise from the therapeutic armory Over recent years there has been a small-scale resurgence in the experimental use of helium in a variety of patients with acute respiratory failure. The aim of this chapter is to present the theoretical reasons for its use, critically review the limited trial data, and briefly discuss some of the practical issues in utilizing helium in mechanical ventilators.
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Keywords
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
- Acute Respiratory Failure
- Peak Expiratory Flow
- Acute Asthma
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Ball, J.A.S., Rhodes, A., Grounds, R.M. (2001). The Role of Helium in the Treatment of Acute Respiratory Failure. In: Vincent, JL. (eds) Yearbook of Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine 2001. Yearbook of Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine 2001, vol 2001. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-59467-0_38
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-59467-0_38
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