Assessment of High-Flow Nasal Cannula Therapy for Primary form of Respiratory Support: A Cross-Sectional Study

Main Article Content

Udarapu Sambasiva Rao

Abstract

Background: “High-Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC)” therapy using a nasal cannula using heated and humidified air is a non-invasive respiratory support technique. It is increasingly being used as the main method of respiratory assistance for critically unwell patients. However, there is still disagreement regarding the efficacy of HFNC therapy as a primary method of respiratory support. The motive of this research was to assess the efficacy of HFNC treatment as the main method of respiratory support in critically ill patients.


Methods: In a hospital providing tertiary care, a cross-sectional study was carried out. The study comprised 100 critically ill patients who began using HFNC treatment as their primary method of respiratory support. Data on demographics, medical conditions, and lab results were gathered. The necessity for intubation within the first 48 hours of beginning HFNC therapy served as the key outcome indicator. Death rate, hospital stay, and HFNC therapy-related problems were considered secondary outcomes.


Results: 100 subjects were considered for the study. The patients were on average 62 years old, and 60% of them were men. COPD was the most prevalent underlying medical condition (36%). Within the first 48 hours of beginning HFNC therapy, 26 (or 26%) of the 100 patients needed to be intubated. The sole independent predictor of the need for intubation was the PaO2/FiO2 ratio at the beginning of HFNC therapy (OR=0.96, 95% CI: 0.94-0.98, p0.001). The median length of stay in the ICU was 5 days, and the death rate was 22%. HFNC therapy-related complications were extremely uncommon.


Conclusion: In critically sick patients, HFNC treatment has the potential to be an effective primary method of respiratory support. Close observation is required, nevertheless, and early intubation should be taken into consideration in patients who do not improve after the first 48 hours of HFNC therapy.

Article Details

How to Cite
Udarapu Sambasiva Rao. (2023). Assessment of High-Flow Nasal Cannula Therapy for Primary form of Respiratory Support: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Coastal Life Medicine, 11(1), 2348–2352. Retrieved from https://www.jclmm.com/index.php/journal/article/view/689
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