Efficacy of Oxygen Delivered through High Flow Nasal Cannula versus Non Rebreathing Mask in Infants with Mild and Moderate Bronchiolitis: An Open-labelled Randomised Controlled Trial

Abstract

Introduction: Bronchiolitis accounts for substantial portion of infant and paediatric hospital admissions worldwide. High flow nasal cannula is a relatively new, safe, comfortable and well tolerated mode of oxygen delivery for infants and children presenting with respiratory distress in emergency units and general wards. Aim: To compare the efficacy of oxygen delivered through high flow nasal cannula with non rebreathing mask in infants with mild and moderate bronchiolitis. Materials and Methods: This open-labelled randomised controlled trial was conducted among 80 infants under 12 months of age admitted with mild and moderate bronchiolitis in the well-equipped Paediatric Wards of Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, from January 2017 to August 2018. Eligible recruited infants were randomised into two groups. First group receiving oxygen through Non Rebreathing Mask (NRM group) and second group receiving oxygen through High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC group). All the participants were followed-up with clinical examinations and investigations and outcomes were noted. Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software, Chi-square test and student's t-test used, p-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: There was a significant reduction in duration of oxygen required in the HFNC group (mean duration in hours: 13.98±6.612) when compared to NRM group (mean duration in hours: 26.70±4.81). The mean length of hospital stay was lesser in HFNC group (3.65±1.460 days) when compared to NRM group (5.35±1.657 days). Comparison of heart rate between the two groups showed a statistically significant decrease in mean heart rate (144.0±7.2) as early as 2 hours (p-value 0.010) after initiation of HFNC when compared to NRM group (148.1±6.5). respiratory rate was significantly reduced when compared from 2 hours (p-value<0.001) of initiation of intervention, with HFNC group showing higher percentage of reduction in respiratory rate than NRM group. Mean SpO2 levels were higher in HFNC group when compared to NRM group at various time intervals, though not significant statistically. Conclusion: High flow nasal cannula, under monitoring, could safely be used in paediatric wards in infants and children with mild and moderate bronchiolitis.