Benefits of early use of high-flow-nasal-cannula (HFNC) in patients with COVID-19 associated pneumonia

• Published in: Medicina clinica Vol. 158; no. 11; p. 540
• Main Authors: García-Pereña, Laura, Ramos Sesma, Violeta, Tornero Divieso, María Lucía, Lluna Carrascosa, Alfonso, Velasco Fuentes, Sara, Parra-Ruiz, Jorge
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Spain 10.06.2022
• Subjects: Cannula; COVID-19 - complications; COVID-19 - therapy; Humans; Noninvasive Ventilation; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; Pneumonia; Respiratory Insufficiency - therapy; Retrospective Studies; COVID-19; ONAF; HNFC; Pneumonia; Kirby index; Índice de Kirby; Neumonía
• ISSN: 1578-8989
• DOI: 10.1016/j.medcli.2021.05.015

Severe COVID-19 is associated with hypoxemic bilateral pneumonia that leads to mechanical ventilation in a considerable proportion of patients. To the best of our knowledge, there are no recommendations about the best time to initiate high flow nasal cannula (HFNC). Retrospective study of all patients admitted for COVID-19 pneumonia who required HNFO between March 2020 and February 2021. Patients were grouped in early HNFC or late HNFC, according to the modified Kirby index. 53 patients were included. Forty-four of them were included in the early HFNC and 9 in late HNFC. There were no statistically significant clinical-epidemiological differences. Early use of HFNC was associated with a decrease in the need for intubation (29.5 vs. 66.6%, p = 0.044), hospital stay (18.8 d vs. 36 d, p = 0.022) and mortality (22.7 vs. 55.5%, p = 0.061). Early HFNC use is associated with a decrease in the need for intubation, mortality and overall hospital stay.