Nasal High-flow versus non-invasive ventilation in stable hypercapnic COPD: a preliminary report.
BACKGROUND
There are no data available about effectiveness of Nasal High-flow (NHF)in chronic respiratory insufficiency.


METHODS
Eleven COPD patients with stable hypercapnia were adjusted to NHF-system with a flow of 20 l/min. After six weeks patients were switched to non-invasive ventilation (NIV) for another six weeks period.


RESULTS
NHF led to significant decreases in resting pCO2. Between the devices we found no differences in pCO2 levels.


CONCLUSIONS
NHF may thus be an alternative treatment device in stable hypercapnic COPD patients.
Department of Respiratory Medicine, University of Leipzig, Liebigstr. 20, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
Jens
J
Bräunlich
Department of Respiratory Medicine, University of Leipzig, Liebigstr. 20, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
Hans-Jürgen
HJ
Seyfarth
Department of Respiratory Medicine, University of Leipzig, Liebigstr. 20, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
Hubert
H
Wirtz
COPD; High-flow nasal cannula; Hypercapnia; Nasal High-flow; Noninvasive ventilation; Significant decrease in capillary pCO2