Patients with full stomachs face a high risk of regurgitation and aspiration under general anesthesia. To minimize the time between the loss of airway protective reflexes and successful tracheal intubation, rapid sequence induction intubation is commonly used. However, these patients are particularly vulnerable to hypoxemia during anesthesia induction, especially in emergency cases. Pre-oxygenation before induction is crucial for ensuring patient safety during apnea.
High-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) therapy, which consists of an air/oxygen blender, an active humidifier, and a single heated circuit, has recently gained widespread use in intensive care units (ICUs) for managing hypoxemic respiratory failure. HFNC can deliver a constant fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO₂) from 0.21 to 1.0 at high flow rates (up to 60 L/min or higher). Its advantages include generating continuous positive airway pressure, reducing anatomical dead space, improving ventilation-perfusion matching, enhancing mucociliary clearance, and decreasing the work of breathing.
Given these benefits, HFNO has the potential to improve pre-oxygenation before and during anesthesia induction in emergency surgery patients with full stomachs.
Emergency surgical patients at risk of gastric fullness requiring endotracheal intubation.
Patients aged 18 years or older.
Health status classified as ASA I or II.
Mallampati classification I or II.
Patients with a predicted difficult airway, facial deformities, or an inability to achieve a proper mask seal.
Patients with respiratory diseases.
Pregnant patients.
Patients allergic to anesthesia or resuscitation drugs.
Nguyen Dang Thu
Lead sponsor
Vietnam Military Medical University
Sponsor institution
Hanoi Medical University
Collaborator
Phu Tho General Hospital
Collaborator