High Flow Oxygen
- reduces upper airway resistance
- flow rate exceeds inspiratory rate so minimal entrainment of room air (i.e. blender dictates FiO2)
- flow is constant so pressure varies during inspiration and during disease progression (~4+/-2cm of H2O)
- reduced work of breathing leads to reduced intubation
- indicators of likely failure are high initial CO2, and no response in RR/Sats to HF
- Can cause air leaks (pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, pneumopericardium, pulmonary interstitial emphysema, sub cut emphysema, pneumoperitoneum. (good UTD article)