Treatment of acute respiratory failure: high-flow nasal cannula

Background: High-flow nasal cannulas (HFNCs) have recently been used for several conditions, such as hypoxemic respiratory failure, hypercapnic post-extubation and preintubation oxygenation, in critically ill patients.Current Concepts: The advantages of HFNC compared with those low-flow oxygen systems or noninvasive ventilation include enhanced comfort, increased humidification secretions to facilitate expectoration, washout the nasopharyngeal dead space improve efficiency, provisioning low positive end-inspiratory pressure effect, fixed rapid delivery accurate fraction inspired by minimizing entrainment room air. However, indications are not absolute, much proven benefit being subjective physiologic.Discussion Conclusion: goal this review is discuss practical application clinical uses HFNCs patients acute highlighting its unique physiologic effects, device settings, indications.