Aplicación de la oxigenoterapia de alto flujo en pacientes con dificultad respiratoria moderada o severa en el servicio de urgencias del Hospital de Niños Dr. Roberto Gilbert Elizalde en el período de septiembre de 2022 a febrero de 2023.

Abstract

Respiratory causes are one of the main pediatric consultations worldwide, in some cases requiring supplemental oxygen. High-flow oxygen therapy is an easy and safe oxygen supply to use with great effectiveness within minutes of use. Objective: to demonstrate the benefits of the use of HFO in patients with moderate or severe respiratory distress. Methods: observational, prospective, descriptive cohort, longitudinal, analytical study conducted at the Dr. Roberto Gilbert Elizalde Children's Hospital in patients from 1 month to 17 years 11 months with moderate or severe respiratory distress requiring HFO, excluding those who since admission required mechanical ventilation. Results: 128 patients were included, and 8 failed due to the requirement of mechanical ventilation. The average time on oxygen was 4.05 days, and they remained in OAF for an average of 2.35 days. The mean length of stay in the hospital was 6.73 days. Two sub-analyses were performed with follow-up to endpoints of 36 or 48 hours and a decrease in score was observed 2 hours after HFO administration. It was also possible to observe the differences between the other follow-up times, especially at 2, 4, and 24 hours compared to 36 and 48 hours, showing a clear decrease in the score. Conclusion: oxygen therapy is an easy and safe technique to use, observing a decrease in respiratory distress after administration, and reducing complications that could arise with invasive supplies, costs, and hospital stays.