Heated Humidified High-Flow Nasal Oxygen in Adults

High flow oxygen cannula: the other side of the moon

“…In the setting of acute respiratory failure, HFNC may allow the delivery of oxygen supplementation to patients with severe hypoxemia in whom maintaining an appropriate tissue oxygenation requires a high inspiratory flow of oxygen. In addition, HFNC generates positive end expiratory pressure, flushes dead space, and increase end expiratory lung volume [2].…”

Judicious Use of Noninvasive Ventilatory Modalities for Severe Pneumonia/ARDS

“…One study showed noninferiority of HFNT compared 3 to NIV in "high risk" postextubation patients (6). By virtue of its much better tolerability compared with NIV, enabling most patients to use it 24/7, as well as its superior oxygenation and humidification capabilities compared to standard oxygen (8,9), HFNT is being used increasingly in this setting. It should also be kept in mind that HFNT in these studies was used mainly as a way to prevent escalation of therapy to intubation rather than as a therapy for established severe hypoxemic respiratory failure.…”

Appropriate Use of Oxygen Delivery Devices

“…At the air/oxygen blender, the inspiratory fraction of oxygen (FIO 2 ) is set from 0.21 to 1.0 [7]. A high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) delivers a flow rate up to 8 L/min in infants and 60 L/min in adults [8].The gas is heated and humidified with the active humidifier and delivered through the heated circuit. It is considered to have a number of physiological effects: reduction of anatomical dead space, PEEP effect, constant fraction of inspired oxygen, and good humidification [7].…”

“…It has become a standard of care in several clinical situations for infants, children, and preterm neonates. By virtue of a number of physiologic benefits over conventional oxygen therapy, including greater comfort and tolerance, more-effective oxygenation in some circumstances, and improved breathing pattern with increased tidal volume and decreased respiratory rate and dyspnea, we are now seeing increasing use for adults [8].…”