Asymmetrical high-flow nasal cannula performs similarly to standard interface in patients with acute hypoxemic post-extubation respiratory failure: a pilot study

Table 3 Gas exchange, hemodynamic parameters, dyspnea, and comfort

Variable	Standard HFNC^a (N = 20)	Asymmetrical HFNC^b (N = 20)	Adjusted p-value (a-b)	Venturi mask^c (n = 20)	Adjusted p-value (b-c)
Set FiO₂, %	40 [40–40]	40 [38–40]	0.763	40 [40–40]	0.104
Respiratory rate*min^− 1	14 [10–16]	14 [11–18]	0.173	18 [13–19]	0.007
pH	7.46 [7.43–7.48]	7.46 [7.42–7.50]	0.763	7.43 [7.41–7.46]	0.350
SaO₂, %	97 [96–98]	97 [97–98]	0.763	96 [94–97]	0.006
PaO₂/set FiO₂, mmHg	237 [211–322]	247 [225–300]	0.173	195 [177–259]	0.001
PaCO₂, mmHg	42 [39–44]	42 [39–45]	0.763	41 [39–43]	0.492
SBP, mmHg	135 [122–152]	138 [122–158]	0.763	135 [126–164]	0.236
DBP, mmHg	63 [55–72]	64 [56–71]	0.763	65 [59–72]	0.452
Comfort (range 0–10)	8 [7–9]	10 [7–10]	0.044	8 [6–10]	0.104
Dyspnea (range 0–10)	0 [0–1]	0 [0–1]	0.763	0 [0–2]	0.104

Variables are expressed as median, with an interquartile range [IQR]. a = Standard HFNC; b = Asymmetrical HFNC; c = Venturi mask
Abbreviations: HFNC high-flow nasal cannula, PaO₂ arterial partial pressure of oxygen, PaCO₂ arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide, FiO₂ inspiratory fraction of oxygen, SBP systolic blood pressure, DBP diastolic blood pressure, SaO₂ arterial oxygen saturation, N number

ISSN: 1471-2466