Authors: Calvano, Tatjana P.¹; Sill, Joshua M.²; Kemp, Kenneth R.²; Chung, Kevin K.³

Source: Respiratory Care, Volume 53, Number 12, December 2008 , pp. 1739-1743(5)

Publisher: The Journal Respiratory Care Company

Abstract:

We used a high-flow nasal cannula with a patient who required a high fraction of inspired oxygen but could not tolerate a nasal or facial mask. We saw a 92-year-old woman with delirium and dementia in the intensive care unit for multi-lobar pneumonia with severe hypoxemia. Attempts to oxygenate the patient failed because she was unable to tolerate various facial and nasal masks. We then tried a high-flow nasal cannula (Vapotherm 2000i), which she tolerated well, and she had marked improvement in gas exchange and quality of life. The patient had severe health-care-associated pneumonia, accompanied by delirium and hypoxemia. It became apparent that the patient's death was imminent, and the goal of therapy was palliative. She had previously clearly expressed a desire not to undergo intubation and mechanical ventilation. In a situation where the patient was agitated and unable to tolerate a mask, the high-flow cannula reduced her agitation and improved her dyspnea, oxygenation, tolerance of oxygen therapy, and comfort at the end of life. Oxygen via high-flow cannula may enhance quality of life by reducing hypoxemia in patients who are unable to tolerate a mask but need a high oxygen concentration.

Keywords: HIGH-FLOW OXYGEN; PALLIATIVE CARE; HYPOXEMIA

Document Type: Case report

Affiliations: 1: Internal Medicine Department, Brooke Army Medical Center, 3851 Roger Brooke Drive, Fort Sam Houston TX 78234;, Email: tatjana.calvano@amedd.army.mil 2: Pulmonary Medicine Department, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas 3: Burn Center, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas

Publication date: 2008-12-01

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