Journal of Advanced Intensive and Critical Care Medicine

Abstract

Background: Intrahospital transport of critically ill patients is challenging and optimal respiratory support during transportation is a scarcely investigated field. High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) and Non-Invasive Ventilation (NIV) are commonly used modalities in acute respiratory failure which can provide the needed oxygen support during transportation of such patients. Hence this study was planned to compare the efficacy and safety of HFNC and NIV during intrahospital transportation of the critically ill patients.

Materials and Methods: A randomized comparative study was conducted. Fifty critically ill patients who required intrahospital transport were allocated randomly to HFNC and NIV group. The patients’ need for escalation of respiratory support, effect on oxygenation, length of ICU/hospital stay, hospital mortality and any adverse event during transportation were recorded.

Results: The HFNC group had lower duration of oxygen support than NIV group (2.84 ± 1.60 versus 4.00 ± 2.04, p= 0.030, respectively) and lower requirement of FiO2 (0.48 ± 0.16 vs. 0.67 ± 0.24, p= 0.004, respectively). The HFNC group had lower rates of escalation of respiratory support, lower duration of ICU stay, ICU mortality and hospital mortality than the NIV group, the difference, however, being non-significant.

Conclusion: The present study shows that HFNC can be a better modality than NIV for respiratory support during intrahospital transport of critically ill patients.

Clinical Significance – The present study highlights the preferred mode of respiratory support during intrahospital transport of critically ill patients.