Have you ever seen someone who is having a hard time breathing and has been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital? Sometimes doctors use various methods to help such people breathe. This special gas mixture that is used in such emergencies is called Heliox. This name may be new to you. So let's talk about it simply today.
What is Heliox?
Simply put, Heliox is a special gas mixture made by mixing two gases, helium and oxygen, together. It is given to patients who are having difficulty breathing, especially in emergencies.
Now you might be thinking, "We normally breathe oxygen, right? Why add helium to this?" Good question. Let's see what the reason is.
The air we normally breathe is about 21% oxygen and 78% nitrogen. The rest is made up of other gases. Even in a hospital, when someone is given oxygen, they are often given a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen. However, helium is a much lighter gas than nitrogen. Imagine a balloon filled with helium that goes up when you let it go, right? Helium is very light.
So, when a person's airways are swollen and congested, when oxygen is mixed with this light helium gas, that gas mixture can travel through the congested airways very easily and with less obstruction into the lungs. This greatly reduces the effort required to breathe.
To be precise, helium gas makes it easier for oxygen to enter the lungs. Like nitrogen, helium is an inert gas that does not react with our bodies. This means that the body only takes in the oxygen in the mixture and exhales the helium with the exhaled air.
When is Heliox used?
Heliox is not a cure-all. However, it can help stabilize the patient's condition by helping them breathe more easily until other treatments have worked and their condition improves. Below are some of the situations in which doctors can use this treatment.
| Medical condition | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) | An emergency condition in which the lungs are severely damaged, filled with fluid, and unable to breathe on their own. |
| Airway Obstruction | When the airway is blocked by a tumor, a foreign object (e.g. a piece of food), or for some other reason. |
| Severe asthmatic condition (Status Asthmaticus) | An asthma attack that is so severe that it cannot be controlled even with normal treatments, and can even be life-threatening. |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) | When breathing difficulties suddenly increase due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. |
| Decompression Sickness | When deep-sea divers suddenly surface, nitrogen bubbles form in their blood due to changes in body pressure. This is also known as “the bends.” |
| Postextubation Stridor | Having been intubated to help with breathing, and having it removed, the throat swells and makes a harsh, 'groo-groo' sound when breathing. |
How is this treatment given?
This Heliox gas is only given to a patient in a hospital, under medical supervision. The doctor determines the best method based on the patient's condition.
The following methods are mainly used:
- Via a Ventilator: If the patient is unable to breathe on their own, this mixture can be given while the patient is unconscious and breathing through a machine.
- Through a face mask: If the patient is conscious, this gas can be given through a tightly fitting, leak-proof mask.
- Through a nasal cannula: In some cases, this is also given through a small tube placed in each nostril.
The doctor or respiratory therapist will vary the ratio of helium and oxygen depending on the amount of oxygen the patient needs. Common mixtures used are:
- 70% helium / 30% oxygen
- 60% helium / 40% oxygen
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Heliox treatment?
Like any treatment, this one has advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages
The two main advantages of this are:
1. Reduces the effort required to breathe: The body can breathe more easily without exerting much effort. This saves the patient's energy to fight the disease.
2. Reduces the obstruction to air entering the lungs: When the airways are blocked, there is a significant obstruction to normal air entering. However, due to the lightness of Heliox, that obstruction is reduced and air flows easily.
Disadvantages
The biggest disadvantage or challenge of this is that it requires special equipment and well-trained staff to provide this treatment.
The measurements and settings of oxygen machines can change when heliox is given. This is because the density of helium is different from that of nitrogen. Therefore, doctors and nursing staff need to be fully aware of these changes and adjust the machines correctly. But if you are aware of this, heliox is a very safe treatment.
Take-Home Message
- Heliox is a mixture of helium and oxygen. It is used in emergencies where breathing is difficult.
- Because the helium gas in this is very light, it helps to easily transport oxygen to the lungs through swollen and congested airways.
- This does not cure the disease directly. However, it helps the patient breathe more easily and stabilizes the condition until other medications and treatments work.
- This treatment is only given in a hospital, under the strict supervision of a doctor. It will only be given if your doctor decides it is necessary.
- This requires special equipment and training, so not all hospitals may have this facility.
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