High Flow Nasal Cannula with warm humidified air versus Non-Invasive Mechanical Ventilation in Respiratory Failure type II

Introduction: It is well known that Non Invasive Mechanical Ventilation (NIMV) with Bi-level Positive Airways Pressure (BiPAP) is the gold standard for respiratory failure type II. Objective: The aim of our study is to evaluate BiPAP versus high flow nasal cannula with warm humidified air oxygen therapy. Methods: A total of twenty patients were assigned to the two types of therapy - ten to each group. All patients were admitted in the High Dependency Unit of Alexandra Hospital because of acute respiratory failure type II (pCO2≥46mmHg). The mean age of the participants was 76,7± years and there was no difference between the two groups, in terms of Apache II score on admission (p=0,152), predicted death rate on admission (p=0,256) and duration of oxygen therapy (p=0,397). They were closely monitored in terms of their vital signs (ABP, RR, heart rate, SaO2) and ABG (pH, PaO2, PaCO2, HCO3) on admission, after 24h and at discharge. Results: There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of vital signs, ABG, and duration of hospitalization. (p Conclusions: According to our preliminary results, high flow nasal cannula with warm humidified air is non inferior to non- invasive mechanical ventilation in terms of vital signs, ABG, and days of hospitalization, in patients with respiratory failure type II.