Outcomes and Protocol Overview: High Flow Nasal Cannula Use in Bronchiolitis in Acute Care and ED

In March 2018, Kline and colleagues published a literature review in Clinical Pediatric Emergency Medicine titled “High Flow Nasal Cannula Therapy in Bronchiolitis Across the Emergency Department and Acute Care Floor.” Given the increased prevalence of High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) use on bronchiolitis patients, the authors set out to review existing studies on the efficacy of this modality as well as its use in acute care settings.11. Kline, Jaclyn, Sonal Kalburgi, Tina Halley. High Flow Nasal Cannula Therapy for Bronchiolitis Across the Emergency Department and Acute Care Floor. Clinical Pediatric Emergency Medicine Volume 19, Issue 1, March 2018, Pages 40-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpem.2018.02.001Read Full Text
A prospective pilot study and a few retrospective studies included in the literature review all suggest that HFNC use may decrease risk of intubation for bronchiolitis patients. These results were most prevalent in children with acute bronchiolitis without comorbidities, and without high initial pCO2.
The authors note that HFNC has been demonstrated to be safe, but that the question of how to best measure its clinical efficacy is still unanswered. Based on two studies reviewed, they suggest that decreased respiratory scores are indicative of efficacy, while increasing respiratory scores appear to be predictive of HFNC failure in patients with bronchiolitis.
Regarding markers for effective HFNC weaning, the authors note that it is a very sparsely studied subject, but they do highlight a “holiday” weaning protocol published by a group at Emory University. The protocol calls for assessing patient symptoms, such as nasal flaring, chest movement, etc. to create a score to determine weaning initiation.
There is no clear consensus for flow rates when using HFNC on pediatric patients. The authors looked at protocols from seven different hospitals that provided their maximum flow rates in relation to patient age. Those maximum rate ranges are as follows:
Summary of Age-Based Maximum Flow Ranges from Seven Pediatric Inpatient Floor Protocols

[vc_row 0=””][vc_column 0=””][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Most of the hospitals that provided protocols cut off their age indicator at 24 months, except for Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City, UT, which listed a maximum of 10 LPM for patients >12-36 months.
Two more hospitals indicated weight as the determining factor for HFNC flow selection. Dell Children’s in Austin, TX stated 6 LPM for patients under 7kg, 8 LPM for 7-9 kg, and 10 LPM for patients over 9kg. Children’s Hospital of Omaha, on the other hand, stated 2 LPM per kilogram of the patient’s weight. So, by comparison, they would administer 18 LPM to a 9kg patient, whereas Dell Children’s would administer 10 LPM.
These protocols illustrate that there is a very wide range of practice when it comes to flow rate selection in pediatrics.
Learn more about pediatric HFNC best practices
Download Your Guide

References

1. Kline, Jaclyn, Sonal Kalburgi, Tina Halley. High Flow Nasal Cannula Therapy for Bronchiolitis Across the Emergency Department and Acute Care Floor. Clinical Pediatric Emergency Medicine Volume 19, Issue 1, March 2018, Pages 40-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpem.2018.02.001
This webpage contains links to third party abstracts and/or publications. With respect to those materials, please note that Vapotherm’s Hi-VNI® technology is a tool for treating the signs and symptoms of respiratory distress in patients for whom prescribers desire to add heat and moisture to breathing gases. The linked materials may describe certain outcomes in relation to the use of Vapotherm’s Hi-VNI Technology, but individual results may vary. Practitioners should refer to the full indications for use and operating instructions of any products referenced herein before prescribing them.