INTRODUCTION High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) can deliver heated and humidified gas (up to 100% oxygen) at a maximum flow of 60 L/min via nasal prongs or cannula. The aim of this study was to assess the short-term physiologic effects of HFNC. Inspiratory muscle effort, gas exchange, dyspnea score, and comfort were evaluated. METHODS Twelve subjects admitted to the ICU for acute hypoxemic respir...

INTRODUCTION Sleep-related hypoventilation should be considered in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, because appropriate respiratory management during sleep is important for preventing elevation of PaCO2 levels. A nasal high-flow oxygen therapy system using a special nasal cannula can deliver suitably heated and humidified oxygen at up to 60 L/min. Since the oxygen concentrat...

Anaplasmosis, caused by the tick-borne bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum, is an emerging infectious disease with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. Here, we present case report 66-year-old Caucasian woman residing in Connecticut who exhibited severe anaplasmosis multi-organ involvement. The patient, medical history rheumatoid arthritis and hypothyroidism, presented confusion, lethar...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with hypercapnia is associated with increased mortality. Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) can lower hypercapnia and ventilator loads but is hampered by a low adherence rate leaving a majority of patients insufficiently treated. Recently, nasal high flow (NHF) has been introduced in the acute setting in adults, too. It is an open nasal cannula system fo...

CONTEXT Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is a cost-effective and minimal invasive respiratory support for the newborn. OBJECTIVE To review the evidence related to various aspects of CPAP usage and its applicability for developing countries. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION We conducted a literature search on PubMed, CENTRAL, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews using the terms CPAP OR ...

Heated, humidified, high-flow nasal cannula (HHFNC) is frequently used as a noninvasive respiratory support for preterm infants with respiratory distress. But there are limited studies that compares HHFNC with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) only as the initial treatment of respiratory distress in preterm infants immediately after birth. The aim of this study is to assess the ...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the value of high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy after extubation in patients with acute respiratory failure. METHODS A single-center, prospective, randomized, controlled pilot trial was conducted between January 2013 and December 2014. Sixty enrolled patients were randomized immediately after extubation into either a high-flow nasal cannula group (n=30) or an air ...