High-flow nasal therapy in severe respiratory failure due to SARS-CoV-2

ABSTRACT

The use of high-flow nasal therapy (HFNT) in patients with severe acute respiratory failure (SARF) due to COVID-19 pneu-monia (NCOVID-19) is debated. Given the lack of beds in Intensive Care Units in the Public Health System of the Province of Neuquén, their use was implemented in general wards. This restrospective multicenter study was carried out to describe the experience of using HNFT in patients with SARF due to NCOVID-19. The primary outcome was the frequency of successful weaning from HFNT and in-hospital mortality (IHM). Two hundred ninety-nine patients were analyzed;120 (40.1%) were successfully withdrawn from HFNT. This failed in 59.8% (179), 44.1% (132) required invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), and 15.7% (47) was not candidates for intubation. A ROX index ≥ 5 at 6 h after initiation was associated with the success of HFNT (OR 0.26 [IC 95% 0.15-0.46] p<0.0001). The general IHM was 48.5% (145/299), 70.4% (93/132) in patients with IMV, 4.2% (5/120) died after successful weaning from HFNT and 100% (47/47) in the group not candidates for intubation. Patients with TNAFO had a statistically significant decrease in MIH and days of hospitalization. TNAFO in general wards achieved a decrease in the use of IMV, with a reduction in mortality and days of stay in hospitalized for NCOVID-19 with SARF.