High-flow nasal cannula improves clinical efficacy of airway management in patients undergoing awake craniotomy

BMC Anesthesiology

Table 7 Incidence of adverse events among three groups

Adverse events	Variable level	HFNC 40 (n = 22)	HFNC 60 (n = 20)	NPA (n = 23)
Obstruction of upper airway	No	19 (86.3)	19 (95.0)	13 (56.5)
Obstruction of upper airway	Yes	3 (13.6)^*	1 (5.0)^*	10 (43.5)
Airway injury	No	22 (100.0)	20 (100.0)	17 (73.9)
Airway injury	Yes	0 (0.0)^*	0 (0.0)^*	6 (26.1)
Requiring treatment for increased Brain Relaxation Score	No	19 (86.4)	15 (75.0)	17 (73.9)
Requiring treatment for increased Brain Relaxation Score	Yes	3 (13.6)	5 (25.0)	6 (26.1)

*P < 0.05 compared with NPA. HFNC: high-flow nasal cannula; NPA: nasopharyngeal airway. “Obstruction of upper airway” was defined as no airflow, apnea or snoring due to partial airway obstruction. “Airway injury” was defined as blood or bloody secretion was found on the tube of NPA or in the patients’ mouth

ISSN: 1471-2253