Comparison of High-flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) and Conventional Oxygen Therapy in Obese Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background/Aim: High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), a new method for postoperative oxygenation, has increasingly received attention during postoperative care. However, its importance for obese patients undergoing cardiac surgery remains controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis compared and evaluated HFNC and conventional oxygen therapy (COT) in this patient group. Materials and Methods: Literature was retrieved by searching eight public databases. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were selected. RevMan 5.3 was used to analyze the results and any potential bias. The primary outcome included atelectasis score at 24 h postoperatively. The secondary outcomes included PaO2/FiO2 (ratio), dyspnea score at 24 h postoperatively, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, and reintubation. Results: The search strategy yielded 382 studies after duplicates were removed. Finally, 3 RCTs with a total of 526 patients were included in the present study. Compared with COT, there was no significant difference in atelectasis score, dyspnea score, reintubation, and ICU length of stay. Conclusion: For obese patients undergoing cardiac surgery, postoperative use of HFNC can maintain patient's oxygenation. Additional clinical studies are needed to investigate the role of HFNC in this patient group.