Use of high flow nasal cannula as a modality of acute respiratory failure due to COVID-19

Abstract

Oxygen (O2) therapy is the first-line therapy for acute respiratory distress with hypoxemia due to Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy represents one of the O2 therapy alternative modalities. HFNC is a supportive O2 therapy device using a specially designed HFNC warmed and moisturizer, resulting in a stable flow rate. The physiological mechanisms of HFNC make its efficacy better than other O2 therapy applications. Management of COVID-19 focuses on preventing disease worsening, and HFNC can optimize the outcome of therapy. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the benefits of HFNC in hypoxemia management. It is also important to clarify its contraindications and factors associated with HFNC failure.

Keywords

• high-flow nasal cannula
• hfnc
• covid-19
• acute respiratory distress