The efficiency of high flow nasal cannula for respiratory support in adults in the intensive care unit when compared to regular oxygen, non-invasive ventilation, or non-invasive positive pressure ventilation: A systematic review

Abstract

Objective We aimed to compare the effectiveness of HFNC to NIV or NIPPV, conventional oxygen treatments, for respiratory support in adult intensive care unit patients. Method: In compliance with The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline, this systematic review study was carried out. We looked through Google Scholar, Cochrane, PubMed, and electronic databases to find randomized controlled trials that were released between 2017 and 2023. Result and conclusion: Five randomized controlled trials (with different primary outcomes: hospital length of stay, PaO2/FIO2 ratio, post-extubation vital signs, ABG, respiratory failure three days after extubation, and 28-day mortality rate) were included in this systematic review. Among non-hypercapnic patients at high risk of extubation failure, HFNC may be more advantageous than standard oxygen in delaying the onset of respiratory failure; in terms of vital signs and ABGs, HFNC is a viable replacement for NIV in the weaning of hypercapnic COPD patients; additionally, HFNC improved patient comfort and secretion clearance.