Nasal high flow oxygen therapy in the ward setting: A prospective observational study

Area of Science:

• Respiratory Medicine
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Limited research exists on nasal high flow oxygen (NHFO) benefits for non-intensive care unit (ICU) ward patients.
• NHFO is established as beneficial in the ICU setting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate NHFO effectiveness in adult ward patients experiencing respiratory failure or at risk of deterioration.
• Primary outcomes included improved pulmonary function, evidenced by reduced respiratory and heart rates and increased oxygen saturation.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational study design.
• Recruited 67 adult ward patients receiving NHFO between May and July 2015.
• All recruited patients were included in the data analysis.

Main Results:

• Patients receiving NHFO showed a significant decrease in respiratory rate (p<0.01) and heart rate (p=0.03).
• Arterial oxygen saturation via pulse oximetry significantly increased (p<0.001) after NHFO initiation.
• The median patient age was 71.0 years, with most being medical patients (68.7%).

Conclusions:

• NHFO is effective in select ward patients with respiratory failure or at risk of deterioration.
• NHFO may potentially decrease the demand for critical care beds.
• Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and explore NHFO's broader applications.