Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 July 2019
Heated humidified high-flow nasal cannula (HHHFNC) is gaining popularity as a mode of respiratory support. We updated a systematic review and meta-analyses examining the efficacy and safety of HHHFNC compared with standard treatments for preterm infants. The primary outcome was the need for reintubation for preterm infants following mechanical ventilation (post-extubation analysis) or need for intubation for preterm infants not previously intubated (analysis of primary respiratory support)
We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of HHHFNC versus standard treatments. Meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.3.
The post-extubation analysis included ten RCTs (n = 1,201), and the analysis of primary respiratory support included ten RCTs (n = 1,676). There were no statistically significant differences for outcomes measuring efficacy, including the primary outcome. There were statistically significant differences favoring HHHFNC versus nasal cannula positive airway pressure (NCPAP) for air leak (post-extubation, risk ratio [RR] 0.29, 95 percent confidence interval [CI] 0.11 to 0.76, I2 = 0) and nasal trauma (post-extubation: 0.35, 95 percent CI 0.27 to 0.46, I2 = 5 percent; primary respiratory support: RR 0.52, 95 percent CI 0.37 to 0.74; I2 = 27 percent). Studies, particularly those of primary respiratory support, included very few preterm infants with gestational age (GA) <28 weeks.
HHHFNC may offer an efficacious and safe alternative to NCPAP for some infants but evidence is lacking for preterm infants with GA ≤28 weeks.
Thank you to all our co-authors of the original review. Thanks also to Dr. Rabeea'h Aslam who assisted with the selection of studies for the updated review and Miss Marty Richardson who provided statistical advice regarding the updated meta-analyses.
Funding source: This project was originally funded by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment Programme (project number 14/151/03). See the Health Technology Assessment programme website for further project information: http://www.nets.nihr.ac.uk/programmes/hta. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence or the Department of Health Financial disclosure: The authors have no financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose. Study registration: The original review is registered as PROSPERO CRD42015015978. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=15978