Contributor: Aaron Lessen, MD

Educational Pearls:

• High flow nasal cannula (HFNC) has become more utilized with COVID pandemic
• Multiple studies have shown this method improves both oxygenation and ventilation
• Newer studies have shown the respiratory benefit of HFNC vs normal oxygen in patients suffering from CHF and those with do not intubate orders who are experiencing respiratory distress.
• Heated high flow is another option to provide ventilator and oxygen support to patients who either do not need or do not want to be intubated

References

Kang MG, Kim K, Ju S, et al. Clinical efficacy of high-flow oxygen therapy through nasal cannula in patients with acute heart failure . J Thorac Dis. 2019;11(2):410-417. doi:10.21037/jtd.2019.01.51

Peters SG, Holets SR, Gay PC. High-flow nasal cannula therapy in do-not-intubate patients with hypoxemic respiratory distress. Respir Care. 2013 Apr;58(4):597-600. doi: 10.4187/respcare.01887. PMID: 22781059.

Sharma S, Danckers M, Sanghavi D, et al. High Flow Nasal Cannula. [Updated 2020 Jul 2]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526071/

Summarized by Jackson Roos, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD

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