scholarly journals High-flow nasal oxygen reduces endotracheal intubation: a randomized clinical trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 175346662095645
Author(s):  
Ricardo Andino ◽  
Gema Vega ◽  
Sandra Karina Pacheco ◽  
Nuria Arevalillo ◽  
Ana Leal ◽  
...  

Background: The benefits of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) as primary intervention in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) are still a matter in debate. Our objective was to compare HFNC therapy versus conventional oxygen therapy (COT) in the prevention of endotracheal intubation in this group of patients. Methods: An open-label, controlled and single-centre clinical trial was conducted in patients with severe AHRF, defined by a PaO2/FIO2 ratio ⩽200, to compare HFNC with a control group (CG) treated by COT delivered through a face mask, with the need to perform intubation as the primary outcome. The secondary outcomes included tolerance of the HFNC device and to look for the predictive factors for intubation in these patients. Results: A total of 46 patients were included (22 in the COT group and 24 in the HFNC group) 48% of whom needed intubation: 63% in the COT group and 33% in the HFNC group, with significant differences both in intention to treat [χ2 = 4.2; p = 0.04, relative risk (RR) = 0.5; confidence interval (CI) 95%: 0.3–1.0] and also in treatment analysis (χ2 = 4.7; p = 0.03; RR = 0.5; IC 95%: 0.3–0.9) We obtained a number needed to treat (NNT) = 3 patients treated to avoid an intubation. Intubation occurred significantly later in the HFNC group. Estimated PaO2/FIO2, respiratory rate and dyspnea were significantly better in the HFNC group. Patients treated with HFNC who required intubation presented significant worsening after the first 8 h, as compared with non-intubated HFNC group patients. Mortality was 22% with no differences. The HFNC group patients were hospitalized for almost half of the time in the intensive care unit (ICU) and in the ward, with significantly less hospital length of stay. A total of 14 patients in the HFNC group (58%) complained of excessive heat and 17% of noise; 3 patients did not tolerate HFNC. Conclusion: Patients with severe acute hypoxemic respiratory failure who tolerate HFNC present a significantly lower need for endotracheal intubation compared with conventional oxygen therapy. Clinical Trial Register EUDRA CT number: 2012-001671-36 The reviews of this paper are available via the supplemental material section.

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cary Amiel G. Villanueva ◽  
Marie Gene D. Cruz ◽  
Lia M. Palileo-Villanueva

KEY FINDINGSVery low-quality evidence suggests lower mortality (based on five observational studies) but higher failurerate of respiratory support (based on two observational studies) in COVID-19 patients given high-flow nasalcannula (HFNC) oxygen compared with noninvasive ventilation (NIV) and conventional oxygenation therapy.Randomized controlled trials (RCT) are urgently needed in this area.• Respiratory failure accounts for about half of deaths in patients with COVID-19.• High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) oxygen therapy reduces the need for escalating respiratory support and improvespatient comfort compared with conventional oxygen therapy among those with acute respiratory failure.• Mortality was consistently lower in COVID-19 patients who received HFNC rather than NIV or conventionaloxygen therapy (COT) across 5 very low-quality retrospective observational studies from China.• Several international guidelines recommend the use of HFNC oxygen therapy in COVID-19 patients whodevelop acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. However, local guidelines from the Philippine Society forMicrobiology and Infectious Diseases (PSMID) and the Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP) recommendagainst HFNC due to risks of transmission and paucity of direct evidence for efficacy.• Additional infection control precautions, i.e. wearing a surgical mask over the cannula, and locating in a negativepressure room, are recommended whenever using HFNC or NIV.• There are at least two ongoing trials due to be completed by the second quarter of 2021 comparingHFNC oxygenation with NIV or COT in COVID-19 patients.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Huan Ma ◽  
Meng-Meng An ◽  
Fang Yin ◽  
Jie Zhang ◽  
Meng-Yun Peng ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure is prevalent in severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). High-flow nasal canula oxygen therapy (HFNC) is currently one of the most common ventilation strategies for COVID-19 patients with respiratory failure. This study is to analyze the risk factors associated with HFNC failure in patients with severe COVID-19.Methods: In this single-center, retrospective, observational study, we enrolled patients with confirmed severe COVID-19 admitted to Renmin Hospital of Wuhan university (Wuhan, China) from 1 February 2020 to 26 March 26 2020. Epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory data, and treatments and outcomes upon hospital admission, were obtained from electronic medical records. Sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores were calculated.Results: Of 54 patients with severe COVID-19, HFNC was successful in 28 (51.9%) and unsuccessful in 26 (48.1%). HFNC failure was seen more commonly in patients aged ≥60 years and in men. In addition, compared with patients successfully treated with HFNC, patients with HFNC failure had the following characteristics: higher percentage of fatigue and anorexia as well as cardiovascular disease; increased time from onset to diagnosis and SOFA scores; elevated body temperature, respiratory rate, and heart rate; more complications including ARDS, septic shock, myocardial damage, and acute kidney injury; increased C-reactive protein, neutrophil counts and prothrombin time; and decreased arterial partial pressure of oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) (all P < 0.05). However, binary logistic regression analysis showed that only male, PaO2/FiO2 and SOFA scores were independent risk factors significantly associated with HFNC failure (all P < 0.05). Conclusion: Patients with severe COVID-19 had a high HFNC treatment failure rate. Male, low PaO2/FiO2 and SOFA scores were independent risk factors associated with HFNC failure in severe COVID-19 patients. However, studies with larger sample sizes or multi-center studies are warranted.


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