ObjectiveTo compare the effects of airway humidification by atomization humidifier and heated humidifier on ICU patients with tracheotomy. Methods? Totally 57 patients who received tracheotomy and did not need mechanical ventilation from the Department of Critical Care Medicine of Yixing No.2 People's Hospital between December 2014 and November 2017 were selected by convenient sampling and divided into the control group (n=28) which received airway humidification by atomization humidifier and the observation group (n=29) which received airway humidification by heated humidifier according to the random number table. The differences in sputum quantity, number of daily sputum suction, sputum viscosity and blood gas analysis index were compared between the two groups. Results? The number of daily sputum suction, sputum volume and viscosity of sputum of the observation group were less than that of the control group (P＜0.05). The observation group showed better blood gas analysis results than the control group on day 7 (P＜0.05). Conclusions? The heated humidifier is better for dilution and drainage of sputum. It can effectively improve the oxygenation of ICU patients with tracheotomy, maintain better acid-base balance, lessen sputum suction procedures which would be repeated and time-consuming in clinical nursing care, reduce damage to patients' airway mucosa, and improve the quality of airway management, which is worth promoting in clinical practice.