Which is the current recommendation for adding humidity while using NIV?

Adding humidity during noninvasive ventilation (NIV) has important implications for patient comfort and airway management. The recommendation to use humidity for long-term patients—specifically those on NIV for longer than a day—stems from the need to prevent complications associated with dry air, such as airway irritation, mucus buildup, and increased work of breathing.

When airways are exposed to dry air over extended periods, patients can experience desiccation of mucous membranes, which may lead to complications like thickened secretions and can impair effective ventilation. Therefore, for long-term NIV users, incorporating humidity is essential to maintain optimal airway health and improve patient tolerance to the therapy.

In contrast, for short-term use or immediate care scenarios, the need for humidity may be assessed differently, depending on the clinical situation and patient comfort; thus, it is not universally applied. This nuanced understanding highlights the importance of personalized patient care, where the duration of NIV use is a key factor in determining whether humidity should be added to the therapy.