High Flow Therapy for the Treatment of Respiratory Failure in the ED

Summary

The overall objective of this study is to determine if Vapotherm high flow nasal cannula therapy (HFT), when used to treat respiratory failure in the ED, is at least equivalent to the current standard of care for non-invasive ventilatory support, non-invasive positive pressure mask ventilation (NIPPV). Moreover, this study will investigate the potential that HFT has possible advantages over NIPPV, such as decreased time to patient stability from respiratory failure, and the ease of use as a first line intervention for respiratory failure in the ED environment.

The hypothesis is that HFT via the Vapotherm Precision Flow will demonstrate clinical non-inferiority when compared to NIPPV with regard to treatment failure by way of an impact on ventilation indices and a lower intolerance rate, and have a positive association with hospital disposition and length of stay.

Conditions

• Acute Respiratory Failure

Interventions

DEVICE

Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV)

Patients will be fit with an oronasal mask using a fitting gauge that will be applied by a respiratory therapist or other clinician skilled in management of NIPPV. Initial pressures will be at low end of suggested range but can be increased as rapidly as necessary to alleviate respiratory distress. Targets should be to lower respiratory rate to the low 20s and achieve tidal volumes of 6-8 ml/kg ideal body weight. If patients find pressures uncomfortably high, they can be lowered as necessary by 1 to 2 cmH2O decrements to enhance tolerance. EPAP (PEEP) can also be adjusted upward as needed to reduce triggering effort (by counterbalancing auto-PEEP) or to improve oxygenation. FIO2 will be 1.0 initially to assure adequate oxygenation, but should be adjusted promptly to maintain an FIO2 of no greater than 0.6 with an EPAP (PEEP) of not more than 10 cm H2O to maintain a PaO2 \> 88%.

DEVICE

Vapotherm

Patients will be fit with a Vapotherm adult nasal cannula that will be applied by a respiratory therapist or other clinician skilled in management of HFT. Initial flow will be set to 35 L/min but can be decreased or increased as rapidly as necessary to alleviate respiratory distress and optimize patient comfort. Targets should be to lower respiratory rate to the low 20s and with a HFT flow rate between 20 to 35 L/min. Starting temperature will be between 35 to 37 C; if patients find the gas temperature to be uncomfortable, it can be lowered as necessary down to 33 C to enhance tolerance. FIO2 will be 1.0 initially to assure adequate oxygenation, but should be adjusted promptly to maintain an FIO2 of no greater than 0.6 to maintain a PaO2 \> 88%.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Texas

  collaborator OTHER

• Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University of Tennessee

  collaborator OTHER

• Erlanger Medical Center

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Memorial Hermann The Woodlands

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• McLeod Regional Medical Center

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Vapotherm, Inc.

  lead INDUSTRY

Principal Investigators

• Pratik B Doshi, MD · University of Texas

• Thomas L Miller, PhD · Vapotherm, Inc.

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2014-09-30

Primary Completion

2016-09-30

Completion

2017-02-28

Countries

• United States

Study Locations