Heliox

	WikiDoc Resources for Heliox
Articles
Most recent articles on Heliox Most cited articles on Heliox Review articles on Heliox Articles on Heliox in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ
Media
Powerpoint slides on Heliox Images of Heliox Photos of Heliox Podcasts & MP3s on Heliox Videos on Heliox
Evidence Based Medicine
Cochrane Collaboration on Heliox Bandolier on Heliox TRIP on Heliox
Clinical Trials
Ongoing Trials on Heliox at Clinical Trials.gov Trial results on Heliox Clinical Trials on Heliox at Google
Guidelines / Policies / Govt
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Heliox NICE Guidance on Heliox NHS PRODIGY Guidance FDA on Heliox CDC on Heliox
Books
Books on Heliox
News
Heliox in the news Be alerted to news on Heliox News trends on Heliox
Commentary
Blogs on Heliox
Definitions
Definitions of Heliox
Patient Resources / Community
Patient resources on Heliox Discussion groups on Heliox Patient Handouts on Heliox Directions to Hospitals Treating Heliox Risk calculators and risk factors for Heliox
Healthcare Provider Resources
Symptoms of Heliox Causes & Risk Factors for Heliox Diagnostic studies for Heliox Treatment of Heliox
Continuing Medical Education (CME)
CME Programs on Heliox
International
Heliox en Espanol Heliox en Francais
Business
Heliox in the Marketplace Patents on Heliox
Experimental / Informatics
List of terms related to Heliox

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview[edit | edit source]

Heliox is a breathing gas that is composed of a mixture of helium (He) and oxygen (O₂).

Heliox has been used in a medical context since the 1930s, and although the medical community adopted its use initially to alleviate the symptoms of upper airway obstruction, its range of medical uses has since expanded greatly, most of which are dependent on the low density of the gas. Heliox is also used in saturation diving and sometimes during the deep phase of technical dives.

Medical uses[edit | edit source]

In medicine, "heliox" generally describes a mixture that is 21% O₂ (the same as air) and 79% He, although other mixtures are available.

Airway resistance is dictated by the diameter of the airways and by the density of the inspired gas. Therefore when nitrogen (of air) is replaced by helium, airway resistance is reduced due to the lower density of the inspired gas. This means that when one breathes Heliox, airway resistance is less, and therefore the mechanical energy required to ventilate the lungs, or the Work of Breathing (WOB) is decreased. Heliox is used mainly in the alleviation of many medical conditions that involve a decrease in airway diameter (and consequently increased airway resistance), such as upper airway obstruction, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchiolitis and croup. Patients with these conditions may suffer a range of symptoms including dyspnea (breathlessness), hypoxemia (below-normal oxygen content in the arterial blood) and eventually a weakening of the respiratory muscles due to exhaustion, which can lead to respiratory failure and require intubation and mechanical ventilation - Heliox may reduce all these effects, making it easier for the patient to breathe, and as it will reduce work of breathing, Heliox can help to prevent this respiratory failure. Heliox has also found utility in the weaning of patients off mechanical ventilation, and in the nebulization of inhalable drugs.

de:Heliox nl:Heliox sv:Heliox

Template:WH Template:WikiDoc Sources