Succeed in Respiratory Care: High-Flow Oxygen Therapy and Mechanical Ventilation

Presentation Description / Summary: High flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNT) is a novel approach to respiratory support extensively utilized in human respiratory care. Within the veterinary field, it's gaining popularity as an intermediary treatment option between traditional oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation. In human respiratory medicine, identifying accurate and early predictors of HFNC outcomes holds significance to prevent delayed transition to mechanical ventilation. Various markers, including the respiratory-oxygenation index (ROX) and the PaO2:FiO2 [PF] ratio, have been explored for this purpose. Moreover, the SpO2:FiO2 [SF] ratio has been widely accepted as a non-invasive substitute for the PF ratio. These metrics serve as valuable instruments for assessing oxygenation severity and identifying high-risk human patients for potential HFNT failure. This presentation will address the bridging of HFNT and mechanical ventilation in veterinary patients. The discussion will encompass VetALI, VetARDS criteria, and the correlation between PF and SF ratios. Additionally, the lecture will delve into emerging indicators guiding clinicians in prescribing HFNT and transitioning from HFNT to ventilator support. These insights will be drawn from human literature, meta-analyses, and recent discoveries involving dogs experiencing respiratory failure.

Learner Outcomes: 1. Understand the physiological advantages and supported indications, as outlined in both human and veterinary literature, for employing HFNT and mechanical ventilation. 2. Explore instances indicating the achievement or inefficacy of HFNC, as well as the processes involved in escalating to or de-escalating from mechanical ventilation.