Oxygen/Helium 20/80

What is this medication? Oxygen/Helium 20/80, often called heliox, is a prescription medical gas mixture consisting of twenty percent oxygen and eighty percent helium. This combination is used to treat patients suffering from severe breathing difficulties caused by airway obstructions or conditions that narrow the respiratory tract. It is frequently utilized in emergency or intensive care settings for individuals dealing with acute asthma attacks, exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or pediatric croup.

The therapeutic value of this mixture comes from the low density of helium compared to the nitrogen typically found in room air. Because it is lighter, the gas moves through narrowed airways with less resistance and turbulence, which significantly decreases the work of breathing for the patient. Although it does not cure the underlying condition, it acts as a supportive bridge to maintain ventilation and oxygenation until primary treatments like bronchodilators or steroids can effectively open the airways.