Indications for the use of warm, humidified gas are which of the following? 1. Patients with hypothermia 2. Patients with croup 3. Patients with bronchospasm 4. Patients with postextubation edema

a. 1, 2, and 3 c. 2 and 4
b. 1 and 3 d. 1, 2, 3, and 4

ANS: B
Warm, humidified gases are used to raise core temperatures of patients with hypothermia to pre-vent intraoperative hypothermia, and to alleviate bronchospasm in patients with reactive airways, in addition to maintaining normal humidity levels in the airway. Cool, humidified gas is often used in conjunction with a bland aerosol delivery to treat upper airway inflammation resulting from croup, epiglottitis, and postextubation edema.