High flow nasal cannula in infants with acute lower respiratory infection admitted to a pediatric ward.
Cases Series
Abstract
Introduction: Oxygen therapy through a high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) decreases intubation rates, increases oxygenation and patients’ comfort. HFNC use in the treatment of bronchiolitis is well documented whereas in pneumonia it is discussed. Research on its use outside critical units is scarce.
Objective: To describe the characteristics and evolution of children who required oxygen therapy through HFNC for the treatment of ALRI in the pediatric ward of a general acute hospital setting, with a sub analysis of those with pneumonia.
Material and methods: An observational, descriptive and retrospective study was carried out in the pediatric ward between 06/01/18 and 11/30/18. Subjects with a diagnosis of ALRI, who received HFNC therapy, were included. Demographic variables, clinical variables and hospital stay were recorded.
Results: Twenty-nine subjects were analyzed. The median age was 5 months (RIQ = 1.5 - 11). The most frequent reason for admission was bronchiolitis. The mean length of treatment with HFNC was 4.5 days (SD = 1.8), the average length of hospital stay was 6.3 days (SD = 2.6). Two subjects needed to be transferred to a pediatric intensive care unit.
Conclusions: This study describes the demographic characteristics, clinical evolution, length of hospital stay, length of treatment with HFNC and destination at discharge of children treated in a general pediatric ward. In the subgroup of subjects with pneumonia, the clinical outcomes were similar to that of subjects with bronchiolitis.
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