Comparison of High flow nasal cannula therapy with Conventional oxygen theapy in Pediatric Patients with lower respiratory tract infection and Respiratory Distress
Abstract
Abstact
Bacground : Lower respiratory tract infection that causes respiratory distress is a major cause of hospitalization in children. Conventional oxygen therapy is a well-known treatment for patients with dyspnea .However, the use of a new high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy has become increasingly popular recently.
Objective : To study the clinical efficacy of high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy compared to conventional oxygen therapy in pediatric patients with lower respiratory tract infection and respiratory distress.
Methodology : A retrospective study was performed in pediatric patients aged between 1 month to 15 years who were admitted to Phatthalung Hospital with lower respiratory tract infection and respiratory distress and had the respiratory failure score of four or higher from January 1st 2018 to December 31st2020. The subjects were divided into two groups; high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy (n=59) and conventional oxygen therapy (n=59)
Results : A total of 118 pediatric patients with lower respiratory tract infection and respiratory distress were the evidences of this study. There were 59 pediatric patients in high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy group and 59 pediatric patients in conventional oxygen therapy group. In high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy group, only 7 cases (11.9%) failed and needed intubation while there were 17 cases (28.8%) in conventional oxygen therapy group (p-value = 0.02). In addition, high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy group had significantly decreased the hospital length of stay and reduced the medical expenditure at p-value = 0.02 and 0.03.
Conclusion : High flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy demonstrated a potential effective than conventional oxygen therapy in pediatric patients with lower respiratory tract infection and respiratory distress. The early use of high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in pediatric patients with moderate to severe respiratory distress may prevent endotracheal tube intubation and may also reduce the patients’medical fee and the length of stay.
Keywords: Lower respiratory tract infection, High Flow Nasal Cannula, Respiratory failure score
