High Flow Nasal Canula Oxygen Helps Preoxygenate ARDS Patients

Tracheal intubation in the ICU is associated with significant complications and morbidity. Desaturation is among the most frequent and hazardous complication, occurring in almost one out of four intubations, that may in some instances lead to cardiac arrest; despite appropriate preoxygenation. Non-invasive ventilation may help improve preoxygenation but does not allow for apneic oxygenation and may not be performed in patients with neurological impairment. High flow nasal canula oxygen is increasingly used in the ICU in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and may be used to improve preoxygenation. It is currently used in our ICU for that purpose. Because high flow nasal canula oxygen is our first line oxyten therapy for patients with acute respirtory distress syndrome, we sought to determine its use as a means to ensure preoxygenation in those ARDS patients that require intubation.