A clinical review of using high flow nasal cannule for patients with COVID-19 infection

Abstract

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), is caused by a virus called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV 2). The most common manifestations of COVID-19 include fever > 37.5˚C, cough, flu, anosmia, and respiratory distress. In severe cases it can cause Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) which quickly turns into respiratory failure. Therefore COVID-19 patients with ARDS require intensive care in a hospital with oxygen support. One type of oxygen therapy used to treat COVID-19 with ARDS is administration of a High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC). The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of HFNC therapy in COVID-19 patients with ARDS based on a literature review. This study used a literature review research design. Sources of literature carried out on Google Schoolar, Science Direct, Pubmed, and Sage Journal with the final results obtained 8 articles that were reviewed. The results of the 8 articles stated that the gradual administration of HFNC oxygen therapy starting from providing high-flow oxygen and then decreasing it to a lower flow according to the severity of the patient had a positife impact on decreased need for mechanical ventilation and increased gas exchange of COVID-19 patients with ARDS.