BENEFITS OF HIGH-FLOW NASAL OXYGEN THERAPY IN ACUTE HEART FAILURE

Abstract

Acute heart failure (AHF) is a life-threatening condition. The majority of patients come to the emergency room (ER) with pulmonary congestion and respiratory failure. Therefore, oxygen therapy is an essential modality in AHF apart from diuretics and improving hemodynamic. Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is often required to reduce hypercapnia, acidosis, and respiratory rate in AHF. However, it is more invasive than conventional oxygen therapy. NIV is also less comfortable for patients and has limited use in the ER. The high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) is increasing in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. HFNO can deliver high flow oxygen with a constant fraction in patients with respiratory failure. Studies have reported the benefits of HFNO in acute heart failure. Therefore, HFNO may benefit and may be used as an alternative to acute heart failure patients who cannot tolerate NIV.