Branson RD, Davis K Jr, Campbell RS, Johnson DJ, Porembka DT Humidification in the intensive care unit. Prospective study of a new protocol utilizing heated humidification and a hygroscopic condenser humidifier. Chest. 1993 Dec;104(6):1800-5.
Kelly M, Gillies D, Todd DA, Lockwood C Heated humidification versus heat and moisture exchangers for ventilated adults and children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Apr 14;(4):CD004711. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004711.pub2. Review. Update in: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Sep 14;9:CD004711.
McNamara DG, Asher MI, Rubin BK, Stewart A, Byrnes CA Heated humidification improves clinical outcomes, compared to a heat and moisture exchanger in children with tracheostomies. Respir Care. 2014 Jan;59(1):46-53. doi: 10.4187/respcare.02214. Epub 2013 Jun 13.
Rozsasi A, Dürr J, Leiacker R, Keck T Delivery of molecular versus particulate water in spontaneously breathing tracheotomized patients. Head Neck. 2007 Jan;29(1):52-7.
Volsko, Teresa A , Robert L. Chatburn, and Mohamad F. El-Khatib.
Wilkinson KA, Martin IC, Freeth H, et al On the right trach? A review of the care received by patients. UK National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death. Available from http://www.ncepod.org.uk/2014report1/downloads/On%20the%20Right%20Trach_FullReport.pdf. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
Williams R, Rankin N, Smith T, Galler D, Seakins P Relationship between the humidity and temperature of inspired gas and the function of the airway mucosa. Crit Care Med. 1996 Nov;24(11):1920-9. Review.
Yu M Tracheostomy patients on the ward: multiple benefits from a multidisciplinary team? Crit Care. 2010;14(1):109. doi: 10.1186/cc8218. Epub 2010 Jan 29.
Large Volume Nebulizers Versus Heated Humidity in Spontaneously Breathing Tracheostomy Patients
Interventional studies are often prospective and are specifically tailored to evaluate direct impacts of treatment or preventive measures on disease.
Observational studies are often retrospective and are used to assess potential causation in exposure-outcome relationships and therefore influence preventive methods.
Expanded access is a means by which manufacturers make investigational new drugs available, under certain circumstances, to treat a patient(s) with a serious disease or condition who cannot participate in a controlled clinical trial.
Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.
Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.
