Use of high flow nasal cannula for preoxygenation and apneic oxygenation during intubation

Need for intubation in patients with acute respiratory failure remains important when respiratory condition deteriorates and places these severely hypoxemic patients at higher risks of desaturation than patients without respiratory failure (1). Between 30 to 40% of patients with acute respiratory failure will require intubation despite initial management with high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) oxygen (2-4).