Relevant studies for nasal high flow (NHF) use in intensive care unit (ICU) post-extubated patients
| Design | Patients | Results | |
| Benefit | |||
| Rittayamai et al. [34] | Randomised, non-blinded, crossover study | 17 successfully weaned patients received NHF for 30 min followed by SOT for another 30 min and vice versa | Use of NHF was associated with significant reductions in dyspnoea, heart rate and breathing frequency compared with a non-rebreathing mask |
| Maggiore et al. [35] | Randomised, controlled, open-label trial | 105 extubated patients with PaO2/FiO2 ≤300 randomised to either NHF or Venturi mask | NHF in the post-extubation period resulted in better oxygenation for the same set FiO2, decreased respiratory rate, improved patient comfort, reduced episodes of oxygen desaturations and frequency of need for ventilator support of any kind |
| Hernández et al. [38] | Multicentre, randomised clinical trial | 527 patients at low risk of post-extubation respiratory failure randomised to NHF or SOT after extubation | NHF in comparison with SOT resulted in less post-extubation respiratory failure (8.3% versus 14.4%) and lower re-intubation rate (4.9% versus 12.2%) |
| No benefit | |||
| Tiruvoipati et al. [39] | Randomised crossover study | 50 extubated patients received either NHF followed by high-flow face mask for 30 min each or vice versa | No significant difference in gas exchange, respiratory rate or haemodynamics was observed between groups. Tolerance was significantly better with NHF |
| Hernández et al. [40] | Multicentre, prospective cohort study | 604 patients at high risk of post-extubation respiratory failure randomised to NHF or NIV after extubation | NHF had similar re-intubation rates and median time to re-intubation with NIV. ICU length of stay was lower in the NHF group |
SOT: standard oxygen treatment; PaO2: arterial oxygen tension; FiO2: inspiratory oxygen fraction; NIV: noninvasive ventilation.