High-Flow Nasal Cannula: Evaluating Its Role in 9-1-1 Prehospital Respiratory Care

The high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) presents a significant advancement in respiratory support for patients. HFNC therapy offers several advantages such as enhanced oxygenation and reduced need for intubation. Implementing HFNC requires proper understanding of how HFNC therapy works, required equipment, and appropriate training. In this presentation we will discuss what HFNC therapy is and how it works physiologically. Next, we will cover the equipment used along with the differences between HFNC and conventional therapies such as CPAP or BiPAP. Finally, we will examine the role of using HFNC discussing its challenges being utilized in the 9-1-1 prehospital setting.