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High Flow Nasal Cannula vs Low Flow Oxygen Therapy in Bronchiolitis

Randomized Controlled Trial to Compare the Efficacy of High Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Therapy vs Low Flow Oxygen Therapy in Bronchiolitis

Status
Terminated
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03015051
Enrollment
30
Registered
2017-01-09
Start date
2017-01-31
Completion date
2019-12-31
Last updated
2020-09-04

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Bronchiolitis

Keywords

Bronchiolitis, High flow nasal cannula, Oxygen therapy

Brief summary

Bronchiolitis is the most common respiratory infection of the lower respiratory tract that affects 11-12% of infants in their first year of life. Approximately 1-2% of patients with bronchiolitis require hospital admission because of poor feeding and/or breathing difficulties. The standard treatment for bronchiolitis is represented by oxygen-therapy and hydration while neither steroids nor epinephrine nor bronchodilators are recommended. One of the techniques of administration of oxygen in bronchiolitis is represented by the high flow (HFNC) or by a system in which oxygen is delivered to 2L/kg through nasal cannulas. The HFNC provides humidification, heating and oxygen, ensuring a minimum positive pressure, reduces breathing load and allows for better nutrition. The main aim of therapy with high flows is to reduce the days of oxygen therapy and the cases of intubation. However, up to now, there have been few studies on the use of HFNC in Pediatric Emergency Units. The Cochrane review on this topic, updated in May 2013, included only one randomized controlled trial (RCT) on a pilot study of 19 subjects comparing HFNC with oxygen administered via head box. The oxygen saturation was higher in children HFNC after 8 (00% versus 96%, p=0.04) and 12 hours (99% vs 96%, p=0.04) but similar in both groups at 24 hours. The authors concluded that the available evidence is insufficient to determine the effectiveness of HFNC. The aim of this study is to evaluate in a large number of cases the effectiveness of treatment with high flow versus standard treatment, in children with bronchiolitis referred to a Pediatric Emergency Department.

Interventions

DRUGOxygen

Sponsors

IRCCS Burlo Garofolo
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
No minimum to 6 Months
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* diagnosis of bronchiolitis * age \>28 days and \<6 months * Oxygen saturation (SaO2) \<92% * respiratory rate \>60 breaths/min * dyspnea with respiratory distress assessment instrument (RDAI) score ≥8 * daily milk or food intake less than 2/3 than normally assumed

Exclusion criteria

* chronic diseases or syndromes * respiratory diseases (i.e. bronchopulmonary dysplasia) * heart diseases * preterm birth (before 36 weeks of gestational age)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Hours of oxygen therapyup to 5 days

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of subject admitted in intensive care unitup to 5 days
Number of patients needing intubationup to 5 days
Days of parenteral hydration or nasogastric enteral feedingup to 5 daysNumber of days
Adverse eventsup to 15 daysNumber and type. Frequency of possible complication such as pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum or atelectasis will be evaluated

Countries

Italy

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026