Patients requiring emergency airway management may be at greater risk of acute hypoxemic events because of underlying lung pathology, high metabolic demands, insufficient respiratory drive, obesity, or the inability to protect their airway against aspiration. Emergency tracheal intubation is often required before complete information needed to assess the risk of procedural hypoxia is acquired (...

Despite the absence of clinical safety data, heated, humidified high-flow nasal cannula (HHFNC) therapy is increasingly being used as an alternative to positive-pressure ventilation in pediatrics. This use of HHFNC is “off label” because the US Food and Drug Administration’s approval for these devices was only for air humidification and not as a modality to provide positive distending pressure....

1 he Kaiser HMO system may limit the generalizability of heir results. It is possible that the observed risks are understimates of those that would be observed in a less-advantaged opulation. In conclusion, Petrini et al have provided important ew information about the long-term prognosis of infants orn at late preterm gestational ages. Pediatricians and other roviders of care to late preterm i...

We read with great interest the article recently published in CHEST (July 2015) by Spoletini et al, 1 an excellent narrative review about the mechanisms of action and clinical implications of using heated, humidifi ed highfl ow nasal cannula (HFNC) oxygenation systems in adults. In their article, the authors make the recommendation that HFNC use on regular wards should be discouraged, especiall...

High flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is a relatively new non-invasive ventilation therapy that seems to be well tolerated in children. Recently a marked increase in the use of HFNC has been seen both in paediatric and adult care settings. The aim of this study was to review the current knowledge of HFNC regarding mechanisms of action, safety, clinical effects and tolerance in children beyond the newb...