PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Lieke Van Imhoff AU - Elke Baars AU - Marije Hennus AU - Judit Wesseling AU - Walter Balemans TI - Retrospective chart review of impact on intubation rate and safety of high-flow nasal cannula therapy on a general pediatric ward AID - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2015.PA1562 DP - 2015 Sep 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - PA1562 VI - 46 IP - suppl 59 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/suppl_59/PA1562.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/suppl_59/PA1562.full SO - Eur Respir J2015 Sep 01; 46 AB - Introduction: In bronchiolitis, treatment is primarily supportive and aimed at maintaining adequate oxygenation and hydration. High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy provides a heated and humidified blend of air and oxygen and delivers higher gas flow rates than standard nasal cannulae.Objective: To determine whether the availability and use of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy at a general pediatric ward is associated with a decrease in intubation rate for infants admitted with bronchiolitis.Methods: A retrospective chart review study was conducted on infants with bronchiolitis admitted to the general pediatric ward of center A (HFNC available) and center B (HFNC not available) between July 2011 and June 2014.Results: A total of 403 patients (of 405 bronchiolitis episodes) were included of which 63 patients in center A received HFNC therapy. HFNC was well tolerated by infants. In center A 6.8% (15/220) of the infants required intubation as compared to 12.4% (23/185) of the infants in center B (p value = 0.05). After adjusting for age and weight in a logistic regression model, a decrease of 47% in odds of intubation persisted when HFNC was available (Odds Ratio = 0.53, 95% confidence interval = 0.27-1.07, p value = 0.08). No complications of HFNC use were reported and the mortality was zero.Conclusion: Our results suggest that the use of high-flow nasal cannula therapy at a general pediatric ward is associated with a decrease in intubation rate for infants admitted with bronchiolitis. HFNC therapy is a feasible and safe device to use on a general pediatric ward.