Diaphragm electromyography results at different high flow nasal cannula flow rates

Heated, humidified, high-flow nasal cannula (HHHFNC) is increasingly being used, but there is a paucity of evidence as to the optimum flow rates in prematurely born infants. We have determined the impact of three flow rates on the work of breathing (WOB) assessed by transcutaneous diaphragm electromyography (EMG) amplitude in infants with respiratory distress or bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Flow rates of 4, 6 and 8 L/min were delivered in random order. The mean amplitude of the EMG trace and mean area under the EMG curve (AEMGC) were calculated and the occurrence of bradycardias and desaturations recorded. Eighteen infants were studied with a median gestational age of 27.8 (range 23.9–33.5) weeks and postnatal age of 54 (range 3–122) days. The median flow rate prior to the study was 5 (range 3–8) L/min and the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO₂) was 0.29 (range 0.21–0.50). There were no significant differences between the mean amplitude of the diaphragm EMG and the AEGMC and the number of bradycardias or desaturations between the three flow rates.

Conclusions: In infants with respiratory distress or BPD, there was no advantage of using high (8 L/min) compared with lower flow rates (4 or 6 L/min) during support by HHHFNC.