Respir Case Rep. 2021; 10(3): 216-219 | DOI: 10.5505/respircase.2021.35119

Effect of High-Flow Nasal Oxygen Therapy on Tracheobronchial Mucosa in COVID-19 Cases

Melahat Uzel Þener¹, Semih Aydemir², Ayperi Ozturk^1
1Department of Chest Disease, University of Health Sciences, Ankara Atatürk Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
²Department of Intensive Care Unit, University of Health Sciences, Ankara Atatürk Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

In the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, several patients have experienced respiratory failure, for which high-flow nasal oxygen therapy (HFNO) is a frequently preferred treatment modality. In the present study, three COVID-19 patients being followed up with HFNO in the intensive care unit underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy, and a burned/wounded mucosa with widespread hyperemia, hyperpigmentation and mucosal damage throughout the entire tracheobronchial system mucosa was detected in all cases, the long-term effects of which are unknown. Herein, we aim to draw attention to the possible development of mucosal damage after HFNO, which should be kept in mind during the provision of ventilation support to COVID-19 patients.

Keywords: High-Flow Oxygen, COVID-19, Bronchoscopy, bronchial mucosa.

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COVID-19 Olgularýnda Yüksek Akýmlý Nazal Oksijen Tedavisinin Trakeobronþiyal Mukozaya Etkisi

Melahat Uzel Þener¹, Semih Aydemir², Ayperi Ozturk^1
1Saðlýk Bilimleri Üniversitesi, Ankara Atatürk Göðüs Hastalýklarý ve Göðüs Cerrahisi Eðitim ve Araþtýrma Hastanesi, Göðüs Hastalýklarý Kliniði, Ankara
²Saðlýk Bilimleri Üniversitesi, Ankara Atatürk Göðüs Hastalýklarý ve Göðüs Cerrahisi Eðitim ve Araþtýrma Hastanesi,Yoðun Bakým Ünitesi, Ankara

COVID-19 pandemisinde birçok hastada solunum yetmezliði geliþir ve yüksek akýmlý nazal oksijen tedavisi (HFNO) sýklýkla tercih edilen bir tedavi yöntemidir. Yoðun bakým ünitesinde HFNO ile izlenen üç COVID-19 hastasýna fiberoptik bronkoskopi uyguladýk. Her iki hastada da, trakeobronþiyal sistem mukozasýnýn tamamýnda yaygýn hiperemi, hiperpigmentasyon ve mukozal hasar ile birlikte yanmýþ/hasarlý bir mukoza tespit edildi. Uzun vadeli etkileri bilinmemektedir. Bu yazýda HFNO sonrasý geliþen mukozal hasara dikkat çekmek istiyoruz. COVID-19 hastalarýnda ventilasyon desteðine karar verirken bu etkilerin dikkate alýnmasý uygun olacaktýr.

Anahtar Kelimeler: Yüksek-akým oksijen, COVID-19, bronkoskopi, bronþiyal mukoza.

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