Nasal cannula

The nasal cannula (NC) is a device used to deliver supplemental oxygen or increased airflow to a patient or person in need of respiratory help. This device consists of a lightweight tube which on one end splits into two prongs which are placed in the nostrils and from which a mixture of air and oxygen flows. The other end of the tube is connected to an oxygen supply such as a portable oxygen generator, or a wall connection in a hospital via a flowmeter. The cannula is generally attached to the patient by way of the tube hooking around the patient's ears or by an elastic headband. The earliest, and most widely used form of adult nasal cannula carries 1–3 litres of oxygen per minute.

For the general medical term cannula, see Cannula.
Nasal cannula
Photograph of a patient wearing a nasal cannula
ICD-10-PCSA4615
ICD-993.90 93.99
MeSHD012121
OPS-301 code8-71

Cannulae with smaller prongs intended for infant or neonatal use can carry less than one litre per minute. Flow rates of up to 60 litres of air/oxygen per minute can be delivered through wider bore humidified nasal cannula.

The nasal cannula was invented by Wilfred Jones and patented in 1949 by his employer, BOC.[1]

Applications

Supplemental oxygen
Nasal prongs

A nasal cannula is generally used wherever small amounts of supplemental oxygen are required, without rigid control of respiration, such as in oxygen therapy. Most cannulae can only provide oxygen at low flow rates—up to 5 litres per minute (L/min)—delivering an oxygen concentration of 28–44%. Rates above 5 L/min can result in discomfort to the patient, drying of the nasal passages, and possibly nose bleeds (epistaxis). Also with flow rates above 6 L/min, the laminar flow becomes turbulent and the oxygen therapy being delivered is only as effective as delivering 5–6 L/min.

The nasal cannula is often used in elderly patients or patients who can benefit from oxygen therapy but do not require it to self respirate. These patients do not need oxygen to the degree of wearing a non-rebreather mask. It is especially useful in those patients where vasoconstriction could negatively impact their condition, such as those suffering from strokes.

A nasal cannula may also be used by pilots and passengers in small, unpressurized aircraft that do not exceed certain altitudes. The cannula provides extra oxygen to compensate for the lower oxygen content available for breathing at the low ambient air pressures of high altitude, preventing hypoxia. Special aviation cannula systems are manufactured for this purpose.

Since the early 2000s, with the introduction of nasal cannula which uses heated humidification for respiratory gas humidification, flows above 6 LPM have become possible without the associated discomfort,[2] and with the added benefit of improving mucociliary clearance.[3]

Nasal high-flow therapy
See also: High-flow therapy

High flows of an air/oxygen blend can be administered via a nasal cannula to accurately deliver high volume of oxygen therapy.[4] Respiratory gas humidification allows the high flows to be delivered comfortably via the cannula.[5] Nasal high-flow therapy can be used as an effective alternative to face mask oxygen[6] and allows the patient to continue to talk, eat and drink while receiving the therapy.[7] Definition: Non-invasive delivery of oxygen air mixture delivered via a nasal cannula at flows that exceed the patient's inspiratory flow demands with gas that has been optimally conditioned by warming and humidifying the gas to close to 100% relative humidity at body temperature.

See also
  • Oxygen tank – Storage vessel for oxygen
  • Oxygen therapy – Use of oxygen as a medical treatment
  • Oxygen mask – Interface between the oxygen delivery system and the human user
  • Hyperbaric medicine, also known as Hyperbaric oxygen therapy – Medical treatment at raised ambient pressure
  • Space suit – Garment worn to keep a human alive in the harsh environment of outer space
  • Oxygen tent – A canopy placed over a patient to provide oxygen at a higher level than normal
  • Oxygen bar – Establishment that sells oxygen for on-site recreational use

References
  1. "Improvements in or relating to nasal inhalation apparatus". (Primary Source). Espacenet. The European Patent Organisation. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  2. Roca O, Riera J, Torres F, Masclans JR (April 2010). "High-flow oxygen therapy in acute respiratory failure". Respir Care. 55 (4): 408–13. PMID 20406507.
  3. Hasani A, Chapman TH, McCool D, Smith RE, Dilworth JP, Agnew JE (2008). "Domiciliary humidification improves lung mucociliary clearance in patients with bronchiectasis". Chron Respir Dis. 5 (2): 81–6. doi:10.1177/1479972307087190. PMID 18539721. S2CID 206736621.
  4. Sim MA, Dean P, Kinsella J, Black R, Carter R, Hughes M (September 2008). "Performance of oxygen delivery devices when the breathing pattern of respiratory failure is simulated". Anaesthesia. 63 (9): 938–40. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2044.2008.05536.x. PMID 18540928.
  5. Turnbull B (2008). "High-flow humidified oxygen therapy used to alleviate respiratory distress". Br J Nurs. 17 (19): 1226–30. doi:10.12968/bjon.2008.17.19.31462. PMID 18974691.
  6. Parke RL, McGuinness SP, Eccleston ML (March 2011). "A preliminary randomized controlled trial to assess effectiveness of nasal high-flow oxygen in intensive care patients". Respir Care. 56 (3): 265–70. doi:10.4187/respcare.00801. PMID 21255498.
  7. Tiruvoipati R, Lewis D, Haji K, Botha J (September 2010). "High-flow nasal oxygen vs high-flow face mask: a randomized crossover trial in extubated patients". J Crit Care. 25 (3): 463–8. doi:10.1016/j.jcrc.2009.06.050. PMID 19781896.
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