Journal Club: High Flow Nasal Cannula
Hey Everyone! As the new interns settle in, we don’t want new education falling behind. Some of you may have celebrated at Dubey’s pool party, but little did you know there was a club within the party…a JOURNAL CLUB. If you missed out on it, Dr. Maqbool discussed the benefits of high flow nasal cannula (something we see everyday at CHM but RARELY at DRH). See below for the recap!
Clinical Vignette: A 55 year old male with a history of Type II diabetes and hypertension presents to the emergency department with a chief complaint of “I’m having trouble breathing.” Patient states that for the past two days, he has felt increasingly short of breath. He denies any fever, cough, rhinorrhea, or chest pain. He is tachypneic and lungs are clear to auscultation. Initial vitals are blood pressure 180/76, HR 94, RR 24, SpO2 is 91% on room air. You are concerned about the patient’s respiratory distress but don’t think the patient warrants intubation because he is alert, has no accessory muscle use, and is able to speak to you in full sentences. However, you want to address the patient’s tachypnea and hypoxia. You wonder which intervention will help prevent your patient from being intubated in the ED today and also provide the greatest long term benefit for his respiratory status. What will you use for oxygen therapy? Standard O2 nasal cannula or high flow nasal cannula? What would you use if the patient had COPD? What if the patient had fevers or signs of pneumonia? What if the patient presented with signs of pulmonary edema or heart failure?
Click here for the response to the vignette!
Click here for all the articles!