Comparison of Mask Oxygen Therapy and High-Flow Oxygen Therapy after Cardiopulmonary Bypass in Obese Patients

To clarify the efficiency of mask O₂ and high-flow O₂ (HFO) treatments following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in obese patients.

During follow-up, oxygenization parameters including arterial pressure of oxygen (PaO₂), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂), and arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO₂) and physical examination parameters including respiratory rate, heart rate, and arterial pressure were recorded respectively. Presence of atelectasia and dyspnea was noted. Also, comfort scores of patients were evaluated.

Mean duration of hospital stay was 6.9 ± 1.1 days in the mask O₂ group, whereas the duration was significantly shorter (6.5 ± 0.7 days) in the HFO group (p=0.034). The PaO₂ values and SpO₂ values were significantly higher, and PaCO₂ values were significantly lower in patients who received HFO after 4th, 12th, 24th, 36th, and 48th hours. In postoperative course, HFO leads patients to achieve better postoperative FVC (p < 0.001). Also, dyspnea scores and comfort scores were significantly better in patients who received HFO in both postoperative day 1 and day 2 (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p=0.002, p=0.001, resp.).

Our study demonstrated that HFO following CPB in obese patients improved postoperative PaO₂, SpO₂, and PaCO₂ values and decreased the atelectasis score, reintubation, and mortality rates when compared with mask O₂.