Satisfactory use of high flow nasal cannula in a patient with acute pulmonary embolism

Abstract

High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) oxygen therapy is a recent technique that delivers a high flow of heated and humidified gas to the patient.1 Compared to noninvasive ventilation (NIV), HFNC has been proved to be an effective alternative treatment for acute respiratory failure. HFNC also has a significant number of physiological advantages compared with other commonly used oxygen-based therapies, including PEEP, reduced anatomical dead space, constant FiO2 and it is better tolerated than NIV. 2 After a thorough bibliographical research, only one article was found assessing the benefits of using HFNC in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.3 We present the case of an 86-year-old patient with acute pulmonary embolism and desaturation refractory to noninvasive ventilation that was successfully treated with high flow therapy.