The Relationship between High Flow Nasal Cannula Flow Rate and
Effort of Breathing in Children.
J Pediatr 2017;
189:66-71.e3. [PMID:
28669609 DOI:
10.1016/j.jpeds.2017.06.006]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Revised: 04/17/2017] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To use an objective metric of effort of breathing to determine optimal high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) flow rates in children <3 years of age.
STUDY DESIGN
Single-center prospective trial in a 24-bed pediatric intensive care unit of children <3 years of age on HFNC. We measured the percent change in pressure∙rate product (PRP) (an objective measure of effort of breathing) as a function of weight-indexed flow rates of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 L/kg/minute. For a subgroup of patients, 2 different HFNC delivery systems (Fisher & Paykel [Auckland, New Zealand] and Vapotherm [Exeter, New Hampshire]) were compared.
RESULTS
Twenty-one patients (49 titration episodes) were studied. The most common diagnoses were bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Overall, there was a significant difference in the percent change in PRP from baseline (of 0.5 L/kg/minute) with increasing flow rates for the entire cohort (P < .001) with largest change at 2.0 L/kg/min (-21%). Subgroup analyses showed no significant difference in percent change in PRP from baseline when comparing the 2 different HFNC delivery systems (P = .12). Patients ≤8 kg experienced a larger percent change in PRP as HFNC flow rates were increased (P = .001) than patients >8 kg.
CONCLUSIONS
The optimal HFNC flow rate to reduce effort of breathing in infants and young children is approximately 1.5-2.0 L/kg/minute with more benefit seen in children ≤8 kg.
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