THE USE OF HIGH-FLOW NASAL OXYGEN VS. STANDARD OXYGEN THERAPY IN HEMATOLOGICAL MALIGNANCY PATIENTS WITH ACUTE RESPIRATORY FAILURE IN HEMATOLOGY WARDS.

Purpose High flow nasal cannula (HFNC) was mostly used in intensive care units with few studies in other departments. We hypothesized that HFNC applied at wards is beneficial for acute respiratory failure in hematological malignancy patients. Methods The study is a single center, randomized controlled study. Inclusion criteria were hypoxemic respiratory failure and hematological malignancy. Patients were randomized to either venturi mask/nasal cannula oxygen treatment or HFNC. Results One hundred patients were included into the study. Median age was 58.5 (18-86) years and APACHE II score was 17 (5-29). HFNC group was 51 patients and oxygen treatment group 49 patients. P/F ratios were similar between the groups throughout the study period. Endotracheal intubation was required in 10 (20.0%) patients in oxygen group and 17 (33.0%) patients in HFNC group (p=0.14). A total of 17 (35.0%) patients in oxygen group and 17 (33.0%) patients in HFNC group received non-invasive mechanical ventilation (p=0.97). Median VAS comfort scores at 2nd and 24th hours were not different between groups. Twenty-eight-day mortality rate was 36.7% (18 deaths) in standard group and 45.0% (23 deaths) in HFNC group (p=0.39). Conclusion HFNC applied in wards is not superior to standard oxygen treatment for acute respiratory failure in hematological malignancy patients.