Respiratory Research (Jun 2022)

Use of high flow nasal cannula in patients with acute respiratory failure in general wards under intensivists supervision: a single center observational study

  • Sebastiano Maria Colombo,
  • Vittorio Scaravilli,
  • Andrea Cortegiani,
  • Nadia Corcione,
  • Amedeo Guzzardella,
  • Luca Baldini,
  • Elisa Cassinotti,
  • Ciro Canetta,
  • Stefano Carugo,
  • Cinzia Hu,
  • Anna Ludovica Fracanzani,
  • Ludovico Furlan,
  • Maria Chiara Paleari,
  • Alessandro Galazzi,
  • Paola Tagliabue,
  • Flora Peyvandi,
  • Francesco Blasi,
  • Giacomo Grasselli

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-022-02090-x
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 23, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Highlights Few data exist about feasibility and safety of HFNC outside the ICU. This study retrospectively evaluates safety, feasibility and efficacy of HFNC used in general wards under intensivist-supervision and specific training courses. 150 patients with mild-moderate ARF admitted to general wards were included. HFNC demonstrated to be feasible and potentially safe (no deaths or major adverse events in the wards were reported). HFNC was effective in improving comfort, dyspnea and RR without effects on gas exchange. Failure was recorded in 20 patients (19.2%): 14 escalations to CPAP/NIV and 3 transfers to ICU.

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