PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Jens Bräunlich
AU  - Hans-Jürgen Seyfarth
AU  - Stefan Hammerschmidt
AU  - Hubert Wirtz
TI  - Long term use of nasal high-flow in COPD
DP  - 2013 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P4970
VI  - 42
IP  - Suppl 57
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P4970.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P4970.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2013 Sep 01; 42
AB  - Introduction: In the last years nasal high-flow was described as a new tool to treat patients with acute respiratory failure. The effects vary from a better oxygenation, a decrease in breathing rate and dyspnoea scores. At this juncture there exist no data about the application in adult patients with chronic respiratory failure. Method: In this observational prospective study we included patients with COPD, hypercapnia and no exacerbation six weeks before enrollment (n=9). All patients had a complete medication and long-term oxygen therapy. After enrollment the patients completed a blood gas analysis. They received a nasal high-flow device for six weeks. After them, the analysis was repeated. Results: After six weeks, the patients showed a significant decrease in pCO2.The nHF device was well tolerated. Discussion: Nasal high-flow is able to improve symptoms of respiratory distress. A decrease in breathing rates and in minute volumes indicates a reduction in breathing related work. The main parameter of the efficiency is the reduction in hypercapnia. For this reason nHF could be a powerful tool in the therapy of chronic respiratory failure.