HFNC vs Nasal Cannula in Mild Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbation

For AECOPD patients, only 8% patients ventilated by noninvasive and invasive positive pressure ventilation. Nasal cannula is the most common pattern of oxygen therapy in mild AECOPD. As a low flow oxygen therapy, nasal cannula has many disadvantages.Therefore, we design a randomized controlled trial(RCT)to explore whether HFNC would be better than nasal cannula to prevent the aggravation of respiratory failure and endotracheal intubation in mild AECOPD.

For AECOPD patients, most of patients don't need respiratory support, only 8% patients ventilated by noninvasive and invasive positive pressure ventilation. Nasal cannula is the most common pattern of oxygen therapy in mild AECOPD. As a low flow oxygen therapy, nasal cannula has many disadvantages: discomfort, low humidity and unstable fraction of inspired oxygen(FiO2) in inspiratory gas. Therefore, we design a RCT to explore whether HFNC would be better than nasal cannula to prevent the aggravation of respiratory failure and endotracheal intubation in mild AECOPD.