Effect of respiratory rate and size of cannula on pressure and dead-space clearance during nasal high flow in patients with COPD and acute respiratory failure

Nasal high flow (NHF) is an efficient oxygenation tool for the treatment of respiratory failure. The study investigated the effect of breathing pattern on positive airway pressure and dead-space clearance by NHF. The breathing cycle during NHF was characterized in 26 patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF) and stable COPD and after mechanical ventilation (post-MV) via tracheostomy where also pressure was measured in the trachea. Dead-space clearance was measured in airway models during different breathing patterns. NHF reduced the respiratory rate (RR) and T(I)/T(E) through prolonging the T(E); the T(I)/T(E) ranged between ≤0.5 observed in the COPD patients and ∼1.0 in the ARF patients. NHF via a standard medium-sized cannula interface generated a low-level expiratory pressure proportional to NHF rate and breathing flow; the median generated positive end-expiratory pressure was only 1.71 cmH(2)O at NHF 45 L/min. The dilution and purging of expired gas from a nasal cavity model were observed to occur at the end of expiration as expiratory flow slowed and the dynamic pressure decreased. The higher RR with shorter end-expiratory period resulted in reduced dead-space clearance by NHF; 20 L/min cleared 43 ± 2 mL at RR 15 min(−1) vs. 9 ± 5 mL at RR 45 min(−1), P < 0.001, which was increased at higher NHF rate. At lower RR, the clearance was similar between NHF rates 20 and 60 L/min. Higher NHF rates elevate positive airway pressure, and at the increased RR can improve the clearance. This may enhance gas exchange and lead to a reduction in the work of breathing. NEW & NOTEWORTHY During nasal high flow (NHF) an increased breathing frequency, which is commonly observed in acute respiratory failure, can lead to decreased dead-space clearance. Higher NHF rates increase the clearance and reduce the rebreathing which may eventually lower the respiratory rate and the work of breathing. Monitoring of the respiratory rate could be an important indicator of not only the respiratory function but also the NHF rate selection and the therapy efficacy.