title: Transtracheal oxygen therapy for refractory hypoxemia.
abstract: Eight patients with chronic severe and refractory hypoxemia were treated with a new transtracheal oxygen catheter. All patients demonstrated an arterial oxygen partial pressure of less than 55 mm Hg on high-flow nasal cannula therapy. Refractory hypoxemia was successfully treated in all eight patients following initiation of transtracheal oxygen therapy at 2.5 to 6.0 L/min. Arterial oxygen partial pressure was 50% greater and oxygen flow requirements were 72% less with transtracheal oxygen. There were no complications related to the procedure and oxygen flow rates up to 6 L/min were well tolerated. Although four patients died, four remain clinically stable with adequate oxygenation at up to 20 months' follow-up. All eight patients experienced an improvement in quality of life with transtracheal oxygen.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000295:instrumentation; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen