High-Flow Nasal Oxygen Therapy for Exacerbation of Chronic Pulmonary Obstructive Disease: A Randomized, Open-label, Single-center, Pilot Study.
High-Flow Nasal Oxygen (HFNO) therapy has never been tested against Noninvasive ventilation, the reference standard therapy for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), in randomized clinical trials. The aim of the present study is to compare the effects of HFNO therapy on arterial blood gas variables over the first 24 hours of therapy, to those of Noninvasive ventilation, in patients experiencing a moderate (i.e. with arterial pH within 7.25-7.35) exacerbation of COPD.
• Age \> 18
• Known Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease (COPD)
• respiratory rate or presence of accessory respiratory muscles activity on physical exam
• moderate exacerbation of COPD as defined by an arteria pH between 7.25 and 7.35 and an arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure (PaCO2) equal or above 45 mm Hg