Home High-Flow Nasal Cannula Therapy in Children with Congenital Heart Disease

High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy has been applied in the perioperative respiratory care for children with congenital heart disease and respiratory problems. However, the information about the feasibility of home HFNC therapy remains lacking among them. We retrospectively reviewed 5 children with congenital heart disease and respiratory problems who underwent home HFNC therapy, and evaluated their feasibility and safety. Age and weight at the introduction of home HFNC therapy were 19 (2-119) months and 5.3 (3.1-11.4) kg, respectively. All subjects had chromosomal anomaly including trisomy 18 in 3 and trisomy 21 in 2 subjects. Cardiac diagnoses included ventricular septal defect in 3, tetralogy of Fallot with complete atrioventricular septal defect in one, and pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect in another subject. Other comorbidities involved pulmonary hypertension in 4, micrognathia in 4, West syndrome in one, and bronchial asthma in one subject. Respiratory manifestations involved cyanosis due to upper airway obstruction in 2 and central hypopnea in 2, and recurrent pneumonia in one subject. After home HFNC therapy, systemic oxygen saturation significantly increased from 60 (40-78)% to 83 (83-96)% (P = 0.04), while heart rate and blood partial pressure of carbon dioxide were significantly decreased. There was no adverse event relevant to home HFNC during the follow-up period of 12 (5-49) months. Among them, one patient subsequently underwent tracheotomy at 11 years of age, and two patients weaned to conventional home oxygen therapy at 7 and 23 months of age. Home HFNC is safe and feasible in children with congenital heart disease and respiratory problems.