What is high flow oxygen therapy？

Have you often seen actors in film lying in hospital beds with nasal oxygen tubes?
Most of these areconventional oxygen therapies. High-flow oxygen therapy differs from these in that it is used for acute and chronic respiratory problems and is an appropriate option for treating patients with severe or critical COVID-19.^[1]
 

• What is high flow oxygen therapy?

High-flow oxygen therapy, commonly referred to in the medical field as HFNC (high-flow nasal cannula) or HFNO (high-flow nasal oxygen), is a method of respiratory support in which a high flow (liters per minute) of medical gas is delivered to the patient through an interface (nasal cannula) designed to create a flush of the upper airway. The applied gas is heated to best match the body temperature (37°C) and humidified targeting ideal body saturation vapor pressure.
 

• What is the difference with conventional oxygen therapy?

High flow oxygen therapy helps reduce the effort your body needs to put into breathing. By decreasing the effort of breathing and creating a small amount of positive pressure in the upper airways, this therapy helps improve oxygen delivery.

When compared to conventional oxygen therapy, delivered through a face mask, high flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy offers:^[2]
 

50. Better clearance of fluids (secretions) due to humidified air
50. Better tolerated and more comfortable
50. Easier to communicate during therapy
50. Easier to eat and drink during therapy
50. Less mouth dryness
50. Reduced airway inflammation

• Why do patients need high flow oxygen therapy?

High flow oxygen therapy is for in people in respiratory distress who still have low oxygen levels despite trying traditional oxygen therapy.

High flow oxygen therapy supports breathing in people with:

50. Acute heart failure
50. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
50. Asthma
50. Bronchiectasis
50. Chest trauma - such as fractured ribs
50. Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease (COPD)
50. Lung cancer
50. Pneumonia
50. Pulmonary oedema

Besides, heated humidification of the respiratory gas facilitates secretion clearance and decreases the development of bronchial hyper-response symptoms.^[3]

- What BMC can offer in the field of high flow oxygen therapy？

BMC H-80AS Respiratory High-Flow Therapy Device

1. H-80AS Respiratory High-Flow Therapy Device is highly integrated design to meet more needs of clinical treatment. It can effectively treat patients who are having humidification therapy, oxygen therapy, endotracheal intubation and tracheotomy (not for life support) by providing a certain flow of heated and humidified gas.
2. Innovation modes:
   1. 1. *AutoFlow mode (Auto High Flow)

Adjust the flow rate automatically according to the patient's inspiratory effort, allows medical staffs to easily respond to sudden respiratory events, reducing the pressure on medical care to a certain extent.
 

1. 1. 2. *SmartFlow mode (Bi-level High Flow)

The oxygen flow can be switched between inspiration and expiration, providing a higher flow rate during inspiration and a lower flow rate during expiration, ensuring patient outcomes and comfort while reducing hyperventilation and conserving oxygen resources.

3. LFlow mode: suitable for children.
4. HFlow mode: up to 80 L/min, meets various clinical needs.
5. H-80AS Respiratory High-Flow Therapy Device has just added comprehensive monitoring indicators, and the interaction is more convenient and efficient.

References:
1. Geng, Shike, Mei, Qing, Zhu, Chunyan, et al. High flow nasal cannula is a good treatment option for COVID-19. Heart Lung. 2020;49(5):444-445. doi:10.1016/j.hrtlng.2020.03.018.
2. https://www.svhlunghealth.com.au/procedures/procedures-treatments/high-flow-oxygen-therapy, High Flow Oxygen Therapy
3. Roca, O.; Riera, J.; Torres, F.; Masclans, J. R. (2010). "High-flow oxygen therapy in acute respiratory failure". Respiratory Care. 55 (4): 408–413. PMID 20406507.