Outcomes of a Respiratory Therapist Driven High Flow Nasal Cannula
Management Protocol for Pediatric Critical Asthma Patients
Abstract
Introduction: This study aimed to determine if a respiratory
therapist (RT)-driven high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) protocol could
decrease duration of HFNC use, pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and
hospital length of stay (LOS), and duration of continuous albuterol use
in pediatric patients with critical asthma. Methods: This was a
quality improvement project performed at a quaternary academic PICU.
Patients admitted to the PICU between 2 and 18 years of age with a
diagnosis of asthma requiring continuous albuterol and HFNC were
included. Implementation of a RT-driven HFNC protocol
[Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) 1] occurred in October 2017. Additional
interventions included weaning continuous albuterol and HFNC
simultaneously (PDSA 2; March 2019), adjusting HFNC wean rate (PDSA 3;
July 2020), and a HFNC holiday (PDSA 4; October 2021). HFNC duration was
the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included LOS data and continuous
albuterol duration. Noninvasive ventilation (NIV), invasive mechanical
ventilation (IMV), and 7-day PICU and hospital readmission rates were
balancing measures. Results: 410 patients were included.
Patient demographics and adjunct therapy use did not differ among the
groups. HFNC duration decreased from 26.8 to 18.1 hours, both PICU and
hospital LOS were decreased (41 to 31.8 hours, and 86.5 to 68 hours
respectively) after PDSA 2. These outcomes remained stable during PDSA 3
and 4. Continuous albuterol duration and NIV use remained stable, while
IMV use decreased throughout the study. Conclusions: An
RT-driven HFNC protocol led to an improvement in clinical outcomes for
pediatric patients with critical asthma without an increase in adverse
events.