Nasal high flow oxygen therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with hypercapnia

Nasal high flow oxygen therapy (HFNC), an open nasal catheter system conveying heated and humidified air or oxygen, has been used to treat hypoxemic respiratory failure. At present, some researches indicated that HFNC can be applied for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with hypercapnia, which attenuates the retention of carbon dioxide by positive end-expiratory pressure effect, washing out anatomical dead space and reducing work of breath. HFNC is proved to decrease respiratory frequency, increase alveolar ventilation and end-expiratory lung volume, and its therapeutic effect is similar to non-invasive ventilation. Application of HFNC managed to be optimized in a way of increasing the flow rate in a single prong and mouth-closed breathing. This article summarizes the application of HFNC in COPD with hypercapnia. Key words: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Hypercapnia; High flow nasal cannula