Predictive factors associated with high‐flow nasal cannula success for COVID‐19‐related acute hypoxemic respiratory failure

Abstract

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, oxygen support management for critically ill patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) was a key component of clinical decisionmaking. There is a lack of knowledge regarding the use of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in COVID-19 patients with AHRF. Most hospitals adopted an early-intubation strategy leading to a high intubation rate and the demand for intensive care unit (ICU)-beds overwhelmed hospital resources. With a low ICU bed-to-population ratio in our area, we adopted a large high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy use in COVID-19 patient-related AHRF. Here, we assessed, retrospectively, the benefit of HFNC use in this population.