Flexible bronchoscopy insufflated and high-flow nasal oxygen pilot trial (BUFFALO protocol pilot trial)

Susan Humphreys, Andreas Schibler, Tara Williams, Susan Spall, Trang Pham, Tiffany Atkins, Vikas Goyal, David Sommerfield, Aine Sommerfield, Adam Keys, Neil Hauser & Britta S von Ungern-Sternberg. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-024-01464-w

Background Hypoxaemia occurs in approximately 30% of children during anaesthesia for flexible bronchoscopy. High-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) can prolong safe apnoea time and be used in children with abnormal airways. During flexible bronchoscopy, there is limited evidence if HFNO confers advantages over current standard practice in avoiding hypoxaemia. The aim is to investigate feasibility of HFNO use during anaesthesia for flexible bronchoscopy to reduce frequency of rescue oxygenation and hypoxaemia.