Nasal Cannula System Alleviates Respiratory Distress

An updated non-invasive ventilation system augments breathing in patients suffering from respiratory distress in the hospital setting.

The Vapotherm (Exeter, NC, USA) Precision Flow Plus Hi-VNI system is designed to flush out carbon dioxide (CO2) laden and oxygen (O2) depleted exhaled air from the respiratory dead space in the upper airway of spontaneously breathing patients, replacing it with optimally humidified O2 rich breathing gas delivered through a high flow nasal cannula (HFNC). A small-bore cannula and circuit facilitate more efficient dead space washout, with a resulting improvement in ventilation efficiency that reduces the work of breathing in such patients, relieving symptoms.


The Precision Flow Plus optimizes Hi-VNI technology by controlling O2 flow (up to 40 L/minute), O2 concentration, and temperature with a single button, integration with nurse call systems (including alarms), connectivity with the patient’s electronic medical record (EMR) to improve workflow and simplify charting, and a new approach to standby modes that enhances usability. Since no mask is present, patients are able to eat, drink, speak, participate in their care, and avoid mask-related risks of claustrophobia, aspiration, and pressure ulcers.

“Hi-VNI Technology has become an important tool for treating patients in undifferentiated respiratory distress,” said Joe Army, CEO of Vapotherm. “Our customers like having one simple tool to treat hypercapnia, hypoxia, and dyspnea. They also appreciate the convenience of a tool safe enough to be started high for maximum results, and then de-escalated as symptoms subside.”

“Many patients with respiratory distress have difficulty with the full face mask. They can become claustrophobic, making the respiratory failure worse,” said Aaron Boyd, MBA, MD, chief medical officer of Norman Regional Health System (OK, USA). “Vapotherm's technology helps our clinicians safely and efficiently treats these patients much more comfortably and less invasively.”

A recent clinical study of 204 patients at five U.S. emergency departments showed that Vapotherm Hi-VNI Technology is non-inferior to current standard non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NiPPV) in preventing mechanical ventilation, regardless of the underlying cause of the respiratory distress. By mitigating the risk of mechanical ventilation, the risk of infections, ventilator dependence, and mortality, as well as incurring costs to the hospital, are reduced.

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