Melted delivery hose--a complication of a heated humidifier.

The polyvinylchloride delivery hose of a Fisher & Paykel dual servo heated anaesthetic humidifier was melted by the intraluminal hose heater, causing a major leakage of anaesthetic gases during a surgical procedure. Under experimental conditions, melting could be reproduced using polyvinylchloride but not polyester elastomer tubings. Only tubings made of materials with high melting point should be used as delivery hose in heated humidifiers with hose heaters.