Humidification Effects on Airway Complications and Clinical Outcomes in Trauma ICU Patients on Mechanical Ventilation

This study compares the effects of two primary airway humidification methods-active heated humidifiers (HHs) and passive heat-and-moisture exchangers (HMEs)-on trauma intensive care unit (ICU) patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation. Adequate humidification is essential during mechanical ventilation because artificial airways bypass the body's natural ability to warm and moisten inhaled air. While existing guidelines show no overall superiority of one method over the other in general ICU populations, trauma patients present unique challenges, such as thick or bloody secretions, which may lead to airway obstructions and affect the performance of these devices. The main purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate how active versus passive humidification impacts airway complications (such as secretion viscosity and tube obstruction) and clinical outcomes (includi