Heated High Flow Nasal Cannula Use at the Hospital for Sick Children: A Retrospective Chart Review

As evidence emerged supporting noninvasive strategies for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)–related respiratory distress, we implemented a noninvasive COVID-19 respiratory protocol (NCRP) that encouraged high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and self-proning across our healthcare system. To assess safety, we conducted a retrospective chart review evaluating mortality and other patient safety outcomes after implementation of the NCRP protocol (April 3, 2020, to April 15, 2020) for adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19, compared with preimplementation outcomes (March 15, 2020, to April 2, 2020). During the study, there were 469 COVID-19 admissions. Fewer patients underwent intubation after implementation (10.7% [23 of 215]), compared with before implementation (25.2% [64 of 254]) (P < .01). Overall, 26.2% of patients died (24% before implementation vs 28.8% after implementation; P = .14). In patients without a do not resuscitate/do not intubate order prior to admission, mortality was 21.8% before implementation vs 21.9% after implementation. Overall, we found no significant increase in mortality following implementation of a noninvasive respiratory protocol that decreased intubations in patients with COVID-19.

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Description and Validation of a Novel Score (Flow Index) as a Clinical Indicator of the Level of Respiratory Support to Children on High Flow Nasal Cannula

Journal of Pediatric Intensive Care ◽

10.1055/s-0041-1731021 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sandeep Tripathi ◽

Jeremy S. Mcgarvey ◽

Nadia Shaikh ◽

Logan J. Meixsell

Keyword(s):

Flow Rate ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Retrospective Chart Review ◽

Maximum Flow ◽

Weight Fraction ◽

High Flow ◽

Nasal Cannula ◽

Respiratory Support ◽

Flow Index ◽

High Flow Nasal Cannula

AbstractThis study's objective was to describe and validate flow index (flow rate × FiO2/weight) as a method to report the degree of respiratory support by high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in children. We conducted a retrospective chart review of children managed with HFNC from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2019. Variables included in the flow index (weight, fraction of inspired oxygen [FiO2], flow rate) and outcomes (hospital and intensive care unit [ICU] length of stay [LOS], escalation to the ICU) were extracted from medical records. Max flow index was defined by the earliest timestamp when patients FiO2 × flow rate was maximum. Step-wise regression was used to determine the relationship between outcome (LOS and escalation to ICU) and flow index. Fifteen hundred thirty-seven patients met the study criteria. The median first and maximum flow indexes of the population were 24.1 and 38.1. Both first and maximum flow indexes showed a significant correlation with the LOS (r = 0.25 and 0.31, p < 0.001). Correlation for the index was stronger than that of the variables used to calculate them and remained significant after controlling for age, race, sex, and diagnoses. Mild, moderate, and severe categories of first and max flow index were derived using quartiles, and they showed significant age and diagnosis independent association with LOS. Patients with first flow index >20 and maximum flow index >59.5 had increased odds ratio of escalation to ICU (odds ratio: 2.39 and 8.08). The first flow index had a negative association with rapid response activation. Flow index is a valid measure for assessing the degree of respiratory support for children on HFNC.

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Description and validation of a novel score (Flow Index) as a clinical indicator of the level of respiratory support to children on high flow nasal cannula.

10.22541/au.160684068.88421891/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

sandeep tripathi ◽

Jeremy Mcgarvey ◽

Nadia Shaikh ◽

Logan Meixsell

Keyword(s):

Length Of Stay ◽

Flow Rate ◽

Retrospective Chart Review ◽

Maximum Flow ◽

High Flow ◽

Nasal Cannula ◽

Respiratory Support ◽

Flow Index ◽

High Flow Nasal Cannula ◽

Independent Association

Objective: Describe & validate flow index (FiO2×flow rate/weight) to report the degree of respiratory support to children on high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) Methods: Retrospective chart review. Children managed with HFNC from 01/01/15 to 12/31/19. Variables included in the flow index (weight, FiO2, flow rate) and outcomes (hospital and ICU length of stay [LOS], escalation to the ICU) extracted from medical records. Max flow index defined by the earliest timestamp when patients FiO2×Flow rate was maximum. Step-wise regression used to determine the relationship between outcome (length of stay and escalation to ICU) and flow index Results: 1537 patients met the study criteria. Median 1st and maximum flow index of the population 24.1 and 38.1, respectively. Both 1st and maximum flow indexes showed a significant correlation with the LOS (r 0.25 and 0.31). Correlation for the index was stronger than that of the variables used to calculate them and remained significant after controlling for age, race, sex, and diagnoses. Mild, moderate, and severe categories of 1st and max flow index derived using quartiles and showed significant age and diagnosis independent association with LOS. Patients with 1st flow index >20 and maximum flow index >59.5 had increased odds ratio of escalation to ICU (OR 2.39 and 8.08). The 1st flow index had a negative association with rapid response activation. Conclusions: Flow index is a valid measure for assessing the degree of respiratory support for children on HFNC. High flow index associated with longer hospital LOS and the risk of escalation to ICU.

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