Editing Heliox (section)

== Medical uses ==

There is also some use of heliox in conditions of the medium airways ([[croup]], asthma and [[chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]]). A recent trial has suggested that lower fractions of helium (below 40%){{snd}} thus allowing a higher fraction of oxygen{{snd}} might also have the same beneficial effect on upper airway obstruction.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Truebel H, Wuester S, Boehme P, Doll H, Schmiedl S, Szymanski J, Langer T, Ostermann T, Cysarz D, Thuermann P | title = A proof-of-concept trial of HELIOX with different fractions of helium in a human study modeling upper airway obstruction | journal = European Journal of Applied Physiology | volume = 119 | issue = 5 | pages = 1253–1260 | date = May 2019 | pmid = 30850876 | doi = 10.1007/s00421-019-04116-7 | s2cid = 71715570 }}</ref>

Patients with these conditions may develop 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 [[Fatigue|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.<ref name="BOCMdata">{{cite web |url=http://www.bocmedical.co.uk/product_information/Medical_Helium_Oxygen_Mix_172.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.bocmedical.co.uk/product_information/Medical_Helium_Oxygen_Mix_172.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Heliox data sheet |author=BOC Medical}}</ref> Heliox has also found utility in the weaning of patients off mechanical ventilation, and in the nebulization of inhalable drugs, particularly for the elderly.<ref name="AnaesUK">{{cite journal | vauthors = Lee DL, Hsu CW, Lee H, Chang HW, Huang YC | title = Beneficial effects of albuterol therapy driven by heliox versus by oxygen in severe asthma exacerbation | journal = Academic Emergency Medicine | volume = 12 | issue = 9 | pages = 820–827 | date = September 2005 | pmid = 16141015 | doi = 10.1197/j.aem.2005.04.020 | doi-access = free }}</ref> Research has also indicated advantages in using helium–oxygen mixtures in delivery of [[anaesthesia]].<ref name="BJA">{{cite journal | vauthors = Buczkowski PW, Fombon FN, Russell WC, Thompson JP | title = Effects of helium on high frequency jet ventilation in model of airway stenosis | journal = British Journal of Anaesthesia | volume = 95 | issue = 5 | pages = 701–705 | date = November 2005 | pmid = 16143576 | doi = 10.1093/bja/aei229 | doi-access = free }}</ref>

=== Available forms ===
In [[medicine]], heliox may refer to a mixture of 21% O<sub>2</sub> (the same as [[air]]) and 79% He, although other combinations are available (70/30 and 60/40).