Humidified high-flow nasal cannula oxygen in bronchiolitis reduces need for invasive ventilation but not intensive care admission

AimTo describe the changes to paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission patterns and ventilation requirements for children with bronchiolitis following the introduction of humidified high-flow nasal cannula oxygen outside the PICU. MethodsRetrospective study comparing patients <24months of age with a discharge diagnosis of bronchiolitis admitted to the PICU. A comparison was made between those before humidified high-flow nasal cannula oxygen use (year 2008) to those immediately following the introduction of humidified high-flow nasal cannula oxygen use (year 2011) and those following further consolidation of humidified high-flow nasal cannula oxygen use outside the PICU (year 2013). ResultsHumidified high-flow nasal cannula oxygen use up to 1L/kg/min in the hospital did not reduce PICU admission. Intubation rates were reduced from 22.2% in 2008 to 7.8% in 2013. There was a non-significant trend towards decreased length of stay in the PICU while hospital length of stay showed a significant decrease following the introduction of humidified high-flow nasal cannula oxygen. Age <6months and respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis were associated with an increased chance of failing humidified high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy. ConclusionHumidified high-flow nasal cannula oxygen utilised outside of the PICU in our institution for children with bronchiolitis did not reduce admission rates or length of stay to the PICU but was associated with a decreasing need for invasive ventilation and reduced hospital length of stay.