Preoxygenation With High-flow Nasal Oxygen in Adult Trauma Patients During Rapid Sequence Induction Anaesthesia

Previous studies investigating apnoea oxygenation has shown that delivering oxygen via a high flow can maintain adequate oxygen saturation levels in a patient for over 30 minutes.

It has recently been demonstrated, in several studies, that High Flow Nasal Oxygen (HFNO) used during preoxygenation in patients undergoing emergency surgery is at least equally effective as preoxygenation with standard tight fitting mask. Data from these recent studies investigating arterial oxygen saturation levels during rapid sequence induction anaesthesia have not been able to detect any difference between the two methods. The mean apnea time among the patients in the previous studies have been relatively short.

Patients suffering traumatic injuries could be more prone to desaturate during prolonged apnea due to being hemodynamic unstable or suffering injuries to the respiratory tract.

Based on the above, the aim is now to conduct a trial where trauma patients are preoxygenated with high flow nasal oxygen before anaesthetised with rapid sequence induction (RSI) technique. The trial is set to be a before-and-after study. During approximately 6 to 9 months data will be registered from trauma patients undergoing emergency anaesthesia where preoxygenation is performed according to standard rutin, with traditional facemask. During the coming six to nine months trauma patients undergoing emergency anaesthesia will be preoxygenated with high flow nasal oxygen. Data will be registered and compared to the data collected from the patients preoxygenated with facemark.

The general purpose of this project is to compare the preoxygenation technique based on HFNO with traditional preoxygenation with a tight fitting mask, with the main focus being oxygen saturation levels, during rapid sequence induction (RSI) intubation in trauma patients in need of immediate anaesthesia.