Use of Optiflow high flow nasal oxygen therapy in a patient requiring emergency neurosurgery

Abstract

SummaryA patient in their ninth decade of life presented with a life threatening head injury resulting in a reduced level of consciousness and severe pneumonia. Invasive ventilation and peri‐operative critical care were deemed not in the patient's best interest. We utilised high flow nasal oxygen therapy via an Optiflow device (Fisher and Paykel Healthcare, New Zealand) that significantly addressed hypoxic respiratory failure, allowing emergency neurosurgical intervention to be performed under local anaesthesia and sedation. The patient survived to hospital discharge.