There is a lack of information about the influence of patient interfaces like facemask or mouthpiece on the effective dose of aerosolized drugs while using high flow therapy in a clinical setting. These interfaces can improve pulmonary drug delivery over nasal cannula but patient preference and comfort should also be considered.The present work was to determine the effect of three different interfaces (nasal cannula, valved face mask, and mouthpiece) when combined with titrated oxygen flow on aerosol delivery in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients hospitalised due to acute exacerbation.The variations between these interfaces were addressed in terms of change in lung function measurements pre-and post-inhalation, the delivered salbutamol dose, and patient tolerance to each interface.High flow nasal cannula was the most comfortable interface used. However, its pulmonary drug delivery was significantly lower than both the valved face mask and mouthpiece (p<0.05). Although drug delivery was different with the three tested interfaces, the lung function improvements were similar.
Aerosol Delivery Through Adult High Flow Nasal Cannula With Heliox and Oxygen
