High-flow nasal cannula versus non-invasive ventilation for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with acute-moderate hypercapnic respiratory failure: a retrospective study

BackgroundAcute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) frequently present with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure (AHRF). While non-invasive ventilation (NIV) remains the fist-line therapy, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) offers a potential alternative.MethodsThis retrospe...

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Main Authors: Nicolás Colaianni-Alfonso, Ada Toledo, Guillermo Montiel, Cristian Deana, Luigi Vetrugno, Mauro Castro-Sayat
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1582749/full
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author Nicolás Colaianni-Alfonso
Ada Toledo
Guillermo Montiel
Cristian Deana
Luigi Vetrugno
Mauro Castro-Sayat
author_facet Nicolás Colaianni-Alfonso
Ada Toledo
Guillermo Montiel
Cristian Deana
Luigi Vetrugno
Mauro Castro-Sayat
author_sort Nicolás Colaianni-Alfonso
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundAcute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) frequently present with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure (AHRF). While non-invasive ventilation (NIV) remains the fist-line therapy, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) offers a potential alternative.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study compared the clinical effectiveness and safety of HFNC versus NIV as initial respiratory support in 100 consecutive patients with AECOPD and AHRF (PaCO2 > 45 mmHg, pH 7.25–7.35). Patients were categorized into HFNC and NIV groups based on the respiratory support initiated within the first 2 h of admission. The primary outcome was treatment failure, defined as intubation, switch from one non-invasive respiratory support to another or death under NIRS. Secondary outcomes included respiratory rate (RR), arterial blood gas parameters, length of stay, and duration of respiratory support.ResultsTreatment failure rates were comparable between the HFNC (32%) and NIV (35%) groups (p = 0.72). However, reasons for treatment escalation differed significantly. NIV failure was largely due to intolerance, while HFNC failure was associated with worsening respiratory distress or hypercapnia. NIV demonstrated superior early improvements in RR and PaCO2 compared to HFNC. No statistically significant differences were found in length of stay or 28-day mortality.ConclusionThis study suggests similar overall treatment success rates for HFNC and NIV in AECOPD with AHRF. However, NIV appears more effective in achieving early respiratory improvements, whereas HFNC offers superior tolerability. Further large-scale, prospective, randomized controlled trials are warranted to definitively establish optimal respiratory support strategies for this patient population.
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spelling doaj-art-75707eba5e844fdebf8963cd58e686432025-08-20T03:31:02ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-06-011210.3389/fmed.2025.15827491582749High-flow nasal cannula versus non-invasive ventilation for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with acute-moderate hypercapnic respiratory failure: a retrospective studyNicolás Colaianni-Alfonso0Ada Toledo1Guillermo Montiel2Cristian Deana3Luigi Vetrugno4Mauro Castro-Sayat5Respiratory Intermediate Care Unit, Hospital Juan A. Fernández, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaRespiratory Intermediate Care Unit, Hospital Juan A. Fernández, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaRespiratory Intermediate Care Unit, Hospital Juan A. Fernández, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaDepartment of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Health Integrated Agency of Friuli Centrale, Udine, ItalyDepartment of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, ItalyRespiratory Intermediate Care Unit, Hospital Juan A. Fernández, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaBackgroundAcute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) frequently present with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure (AHRF). While non-invasive ventilation (NIV) remains the fist-line therapy, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) offers a potential alternative.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study compared the clinical effectiveness and safety of HFNC versus NIV as initial respiratory support in 100 consecutive patients with AECOPD and AHRF (PaCO2 > 45 mmHg, pH 7.25–7.35). Patients were categorized into HFNC and NIV groups based on the respiratory support initiated within the first 2 h of admission. The primary outcome was treatment failure, defined as intubation, switch from one non-invasive respiratory support to another or death under NIRS. Secondary outcomes included respiratory rate (RR), arterial blood gas parameters, length of stay, and duration of respiratory support.ResultsTreatment failure rates were comparable between the HFNC (32%) and NIV (35%) groups (p = 0.72). However, reasons for treatment escalation differed significantly. NIV failure was largely due to intolerance, while HFNC failure was associated with worsening respiratory distress or hypercapnia. NIV demonstrated superior early improvements in RR and PaCO2 compared to HFNC. No statistically significant differences were found in length of stay or 28-day mortality.ConclusionThis study suggests similar overall treatment success rates for HFNC and NIV in AECOPD with AHRF. However, NIV appears more effective in achieving early respiratory improvements, whereas HFNC offers superior tolerability. Further large-scale, prospective, randomized controlled trials are warranted to definitively establish optimal respiratory support strategies for this patient population.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1582749/fullacute hypercapnic respiratory failureCOPDnon-invasive ventilationhigh-flow nasal cannulanon-invasive respiratory support (NIRS)
spellingShingle Nicolás Colaianni-Alfonso
Ada Toledo
Guillermo Montiel
Cristian Deana
Luigi Vetrugno
Mauro Castro-Sayat
High-flow nasal cannula versus non-invasive ventilation for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with acute-moderate hypercapnic respiratory failure: a retrospective study
Frontiers in Medicine
acute hypercapnic respiratory failure
COPD
non-invasive ventilation
high-flow nasal cannula
non-invasive respiratory support (NIRS)
title High-flow nasal cannula versus non-invasive ventilation for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with acute-moderate hypercapnic respiratory failure: a retrospective study
title_full High-flow nasal cannula versus non-invasive ventilation for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with acute-moderate hypercapnic respiratory failure: a retrospective study
title_fullStr High-flow nasal cannula versus non-invasive ventilation for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with acute-moderate hypercapnic respiratory failure: a retrospective study
title_full_unstemmed High-flow nasal cannula versus non-invasive ventilation for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with acute-moderate hypercapnic respiratory failure: a retrospective study
title_short High-flow nasal cannula versus non-invasive ventilation for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with acute-moderate hypercapnic respiratory failure: a retrospective study
title_sort high flow nasal cannula versus non invasive ventilation for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with acute moderate hypercapnic respiratory failure a retrospective study
topic acute hypercapnic respiratory failure
COPD
non-invasive ventilation
high-flow nasal cannula
non-invasive respiratory support (NIRS)
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1582749/full
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