Podcast 715: Heated High Flow O2

<p><strong>Contributor: Nick Hatch, MD</strong></p> <p><strong>Educational Pearls:</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">High flow nasal cannula (HFNC) or “heated high flow” can deliver higher oxygen levels than nasal cannula</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">It typically is used as an “intermediate” between oxygen via nasal cannula and other non-invasive positive pressure devices, such as BiPAP</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Can modify both the FiO2 and flow rate</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Maximum flow rate is typically  60 liters per minute (compare that to a typical breath that is 30-40 L/min)</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Humidification of HFNC is important due to risk of epistaxis from drying out the nasal mucosa</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Large energy expenditure to humidify airflow by a patient in respiratory distress, so humidified oxygen may help decrease this metabolic demand</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>References</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nishimura M. High-Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Therapy in Adults: Physiological Benefits, Indication, Clinical Benefits, and Adverse Effects. Respir Care. 2016;61(4):529-541. doi:10.4187/respcare.04577</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hacquin A, Perret M, Manckoundia P, et al. High-Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygenation in Older Patients with SARS-CoV-2-Related Acute Respiratory Failure. J Clin Med. 2021;10(16):3515. Published 2021 Aug 10. doi:10.3390/jcm10163515</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Summarized by John Spartz, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD</span></em></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Emergency Medical Minute is excited to announce that w