Factors Affecting the Use of High-flow Nasal Cannula in Pediatric Patients with Pneumonia at Takhli Hospital

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to study factors affecting the use of a high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in pediatric patients with pneumonia at Takhli Hospital

Method: This retrospective cohort study was conducted on pediatric patients aged 1 month to 15 years diagnosed with pneumonia and admitted to Takhli Hospital from January 2022 to February 2024. Data on 493 patients was collected from hospital medical records. Data collection included general information, date of symptoms, laboratory results, chest radiograph, and treatment outcomes. Risk factors and patient characteristics that affected the use of HFNC treatment were analyzed.

Results: 55.8% of pediatric patients with pneumonia were male, with a median age of 3 years (Interquartile range [IQR} 1.5-4.8 years) and a median weight of 14 kilograms (IQR 10.1-18.4 kilograms). HFNC was used at 29.6%. The rate of intubation in children using HFNC was 9.6%. Factors affecting the use of HFNC include the child’s age ≤ 2 years, the date of symptoms ≤3 Days and the first vital signs were respiratory rate above the age limit and oxygen saturation (SpO₂) < 92%

Conclusions: HFNC in pediatric patients with severe pneumonia reduces the respiratory rate, dyspnea, and intubation rates. Education should be provided to the childcare team, and children with risk factors for HFNC should be monitored to decrease the incidence of more severe pneumonia.

Keywords: High flow nasal cannula (HFNC), pediatric, pneumonia, Factors affecting