RESUMO
Objective This study aimed to investigate the value of high-flow nasal cannula (HNFC) oxygen therapy in treating patients with severe novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19).Methods The clinical data of 22 patients with severe COVID-19 were collected. The heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and oxygenation index (PO2/FiO2) at 0, 6, 24 and 72 hours after treatment were compared between the HFNC oxygen therapy group and the conventional oxygen therapy (COT) group. In addition, the white blood cell (WBC) count, lymphocyte (L) count, C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) were compared before and at 72 hours after oxygen therapy treatment.Results Of the included patients, 12 were assigned to the HFNC oxygen therapy group and 10 were assigned to the COT group. The differences in HR, RR, PaO2/FiO2, WBC, L, CRP and PCT at 0 hours between the two groups were not statistically significant. At 6 hours after treatment with the two oxygen therapies, HR, RR and PaO2/FiO2 were better in the HFNC oxygen therapy group than in the COT group (p < 0.05), while at 24 and 72 hours after treatment with the two oxygen therapies, PaO2/FiO2 was better in the HFNC oxygen therapy group than in the COT group (p < 0.05), but the differences in HR and RR were not statistically significant. At 72 hours after treatment, L and CRP had significantly improved in the HFNC oxygen therapy group compared with the COT group, but the differences in WBC and PCT were not statistically significant. The length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) and the total length of hospitalization were shorter in the HFNC oxygen therapy group than in the COT group, and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant.Conclusion Compared with COT, early application of HFNC oxygen therapy in patients with severe COVID-19 can significantly improve oxygenation and RR, and HFNC oxygen therapy can improve the infection indexes of patients and reduce the length of stay in the ICU of patients. Therefore, it has high clinical application value.