High flow of warm humidified oxygen

1. A method for treating asthma comprising:

placing a nasal cannula on a patient;

placing a nebulizer face mask on the patient over the nasal cannula, the nebulizer face mask having a first side aperture, a second side aperture, and a central aperture;

administering oxygen through the nebulizer face mask from a first oxygen source fluidly connected to a first nebulizer chamber, the first nebulizer chamber fluidly connected to the nebulizer face mask by a first T-connector, the first T-connector having a first branch inserted into the first side aperture of the nebulizer face mask, a second branch vented to the atmosphere, and a third branch connected to the first nebulizer chamber;

administering oxygen through the nebulizer face mask from a second oxygen source fluidly connected to a second nebulizer chamber, the second nebulizer chamber fluidly connected to the nebulizer face mask by a second T-connector, the second T-connector having a first branch inserted into the second side aperture of the nebulizer face mask, a second branch vented to the atmosphere, and a third branch connected to the second nebulizer chamber;

administering oxygen through the nasal cannula from a third oxygen source;

providing an anti-asthmatic drug in the first nebulizer chamber or the second nebulizer chamber;

nebulizing the anti-asthmatic drug;

supplying warm humidified air to the nebulizer face mask from a third nebulizer chamber fluidly connected to the nebulizer face mask at the central aperture of the nebulizer face mask;

combining the nebulized anti-asthmatic drug with the warm humidified air and the oxygen being administered from the first oxygen source and the second oxygen source; and

wherein the oxygen from the third oxygen source and the combined nebulized anti-asthmatic drug, warm humidified air, and the oxygen from the first oxygen source and the second oxygen source are administered at a flow rate of up to 15 liters per minute total.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nebulized anti-asthmatic drug comprises a combination of bronchodilators.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the combination of bronchodilators comprises a Beta-2 agonist bronchodilator and an anticholinergic bronchodilator.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the Beta-2 agonist bronchodilator is albuterol and the anticholinergic bronchodilator is ipratropium.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adding 5 cc of 40° C. heated water into the third nebulizer chamber.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the heated water humidifies and produces the warm humidified air that is supplied from the third nebulizer chamber.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein administering oxygen from the first oxygen source comprises administering 6 liters of oxygen per minute.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein administering oxygen from the second oxygen source comprises administering 6 liters of oxygen per minute.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein administering oxygen from the third oxygen source comprises administering 3 liters of oxygen per minute.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is used to treat acute exacerbation of asthma in pediatric patients.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein administering oxygen from the first oxygen source is done at a flow rate of 6 liters per minute, administering oxygen from the second oxygen source is done at a flow rate of 6 liters per minute, and administering oxygen from the third oxygen source is done at a flow rate of 3 liters per minute.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

operably connecting the first nebulizer chamber to the nebulizer face mask by fitting a horizontal portion of the first T-connector into the first side aperture and fitting a vertical portion of the first T-connector to the first nebulizer chamber operatively connected to the first oxygen source;

operably connecting the second nebulizer chamber to the nebulizer face mask by fitting a horizontal portion of the second T-connector into the second side aperture and fitting a vertical portion of the second T-connector to the second nebulizer chamber operatively connected to the second oxygen source; and

operably connecting the third nebulizer chamber to the central aperture.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third nebulizer chamber is part of a portable nebulizer.

14. A method for treating asthma comprising:

fitting a nasal cannula on a patient, the nasal cannula being operatively connected to a cannula oxygen source;

administering oxygen from the cannula oxygen source;

fitting a nebulizer face mask on the patient over the nasal cannula, the nebulizer face mask having a first side aperture, a second side aperture, and a central aperture;

inserting a first horizontal portion of a first T-connector into the first side aperture, a second horizontal portion of the first T-connector venting to the atmosphere;

connecting a vertical portion of the first T-connector to a first nebulizer chamber containing an anti-asthmatic drug and operatively connecting the first nebulizer chamber to a first oxygen source;

inserting a first horizontal portion of a second T-connector into the second side aperture, a second horizontal portion of the second T-connector venting to the atmosphere;

connecting a vertical portion of the second T-connector to a second nebulizer chamber and operatively connecting the second nebulizer chamber to a second oxygen source;

operatively connecting a third nebulizer chamber to the central aperture;

adding heated water into the third nebulizer chamber;

administering oxygen from the first oxygen source and combining it with the anti-asthmatic drug in the first nebulizer chamber;

administering oxygen from the second oxygen source;

administering warm humidified air from the third nebulizer chamber;

wherein administering oxygen from the first oxygen source, the second oxygen source, and the cannula oxygen source is done at a combined flow rate of up to 15 liters per minute.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein administering oxygen from the first oxygen source is done at a flow rate of 6 liters per minute, administering oxygen from second oxygen source is done at a flow rate of 6 liters per minute, and administering oxygen from the cannula oxygen source is done at a flow rate of 3 liters per minute.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the nebulized anti-asthmatic drug comprises a bronchodilator.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the bronchodilator is a Beta-2 agonist bronchodilator or an anticholinergic bronchodilator.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the bronchodilator comprises a combination of albuterol and ipratropium.