Oxygen/Helium 40/60

What is this medication?

Oxygen/Helium 40/60, commonly known as heliox, is a specialized medical gas mixture consisting of 40 percent oxygen and 60 percent helium. It is primarily used as a supportive therapy for patients experiencing significant respiratory distress caused by airway obstructions. Because helium is much less dense than the nitrogen typically found in room air, this gas mixture flows more easily through narrowed or constricted breathing passages, reducing the mechanical effort required for a patient to breathe.

This medication is frequently utilized in hospital environments to manage conditions such as severe asthma exacerbations, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or upper airway obstructions like croup. By decreasing the turbulence of airflow into the lungs, the mixture helps to deliver oxygen more efficiently and prevents the exhaustion of respiratory muscles. It is generally used as a temporary measure to stabilize a patient while other primary treatments, such as bronchodilators or steroids, are given time to work.