Nasal highflow oxygenation seems to be an effective and safe method of airway management in short time surgical interventions at larynx and pharynx

Introduction:

From a clinical surgeons view the anaesthesial process and organisation time is unbalanced to length of surgical intervention at short operations of larynx and pharynx. Furthermore intubation tube might be an obstacle regarding the access to endolarynx. Therefore it might be nessessary to develop new concepts of oxygenation to improve the surgical process.

Methods:

Nasal highflow oxygenation is performed in intensive care patients, in neonatal intensiv care therapy and is described to be used in patients with severe pulmonary diseases. We did not find any describtion of uses in short surgical interventions of larynx and pharynx.

We like to show our experience with this system regarding safety, complications and practical feasability after 1 year experience.

Results:

Within the last year in 12 patients with surgical interventions of larynx and pharynx airway management was performed by highflow oxygenation. Mean operation time was 7,5 min. Switch to intubation tube was necessary in 1 case, abortion of surgical proceed was not necessary. We had no case of relevant hypoxemia ( < 90%) and no case of relevant hypercapnia measured after intervention.

Conclusions:

Nasal highflow oxygenation seems to be an effective and safe method of airway management in short time surgical interventions at larynx and pharynx.

Publication History

Publication Date:
23 April 2019 (online)