Background High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) oxygen therapy has been recommended for use in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with acute respiratory failure and many other clinical conditions. HFNC devices produced by different manufacturers may have varied performance. Whether there is a difference in these devices and the extent of the differences in performance remain unknown. Methods Four HFNC devices (AIRVO 2, TNI softFlow 50, HUMID-BH, and OH-70C) and a ventilator with an HFNC module (bellavista 1000) were evaluated. The flow was set at 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, and 80 L/min, and the FiO 2 was set at 21%, 26%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, and 90%. Then, one side of the cannulas was clipped to simulate the compression, bending, or blocking of the nasal cannulas. The flow and FiO 2 of the delivered gas were recorded and compared among settings and devices. Results The actual-flow and actual-FiO 2 delivered by different settings and devices varied. AIRVO 2 had superior performance in flow and FiO 2 accuracy. bellavista 1000 and OH-70C had good performance in the accuracy of actual-flows and actual-FiO 2, respectively. bellavista 1000 and HUMID-BH had a larger flow range from 10 to 80 L/min, but only bellavista 1000 could provide a stable flow with an excessive resistance up to 60 L/min. TNI softFlow 50 had the best flow compensation and could provide sufficient flow with excessive resistance at 20–50 L/min. Conclusions The variation in flow, FiO 2 settings, and devices could influence the actual-flow and actual-FiO 2 delivered. AIRVO 2 and OH-70C showed better FiO 2 accuracy. TNI softFlow 50, bellavista 1000, and HUMID-BH could lower the risk of insufficient flow support due to accidental compression or blocking of the cannulas. In addition, ventilators with HFNC modules provided comparable flow and FiO 2 and could be an alternative to standalone HFNC devices.
【초록키워드】 COVID-19, coronavirus disease, Respiratory failure, Variation, risk, nasal, Accuracy, Patient, Oxygen therapy, HFNC, Support, ventilator, clinical conditions, Result, produced, addition, evaluated, provided, comparable, were recorded, cannula, cannulas, 【제목키워드】 performance, High-flow nasal cannula, Flow, actual, Bench,