Quality Management in Healthcare Through the Application of High-Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) During ERCP Procedures
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55707/jhs.v12i1.165Keywords:
High-Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC), Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), healthcare qualityAbstract
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an invasive procedure associated with a high risk of respiratory complications, such as hypoxemia and hypercapnia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) compared to conventional nasal cannula (CNC) in maintaining oxygenation and ventilation during ERCP. This prospective, randomized pilot study included 20 patients divided into two groups (HFNC n=10; CNC n=10). Oxygen saturation (SaO₂) and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (paCO₂) were measured before and after the procedure. Data were analyzed using Levene’s test and an independent samples t-test. The HFNC group achieved significantly higher oxygen saturation (98.28 ± 3.15) compared to the CNC group (93.00 ± 5.96; p=0.024). Furthermore, paCO₂ was significantly lower in the HFNC group (5.36 ± 0.70) compared to the CNC group (6.34 ± 0.62; p<0.01). The HFNC group also had fewer episodes of desaturation and required fewer airway interventions. The results demonstrate that the use of HFNC during ERCP improves oxygenation, reduces CO₂ retention, and enhances patient safety, especially among those with higher respiratory risk. Despite the limitations of a small sample size, the findings are consistent with the existing literature and support further implementation of HFNC in gastroenterological endoscopy.
References
Al-Thaqafy, M. S., Alzahrani, S., Alghamdi, A., Alselemi, S., Alshebani, K., Bugis, B. A., Bugis, A., & Al-Shareef, A. S. (2022). The efficiency of high-flow nasal cannula for adult patients with coronavirus disease 19 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Annals of Thoracic Medicine, 17(4), 214–219. https://doi.org/10.4103/atm.atm_156_22
Alzanbagi, A. B., Jilani, T. L., Qureshi, L. A., Ibrahim, I. M., Tashkandi, A. M. S., Elshrief, E. E. A., Khan, M. S., Abdelhalim, M. A. H., Zahrani, S. A., Mohamed, W. M. K., Nageeb, A. M., Abbushi, B., & Shariff, M. K. (2022). Randomized trial comparing general anesthesia with anesthesiologist-administered deep sedation for ERCP in average-risk patients. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 96(6), 983–990.e2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gie.2022.06.003
Apltekinoğlu Mendil, N., Temel, Ş., Yüksel, R. C., Gündoğan, K., Eser, B., Kaynar, L., & Sungur, M. (2021). The use of high-flow nasal oxygen vs. standard oxygen therapy in hematological malignancy patients with acute respiratory failure in hematology wards. Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences, 51(4), 1756–1763. https://doi.org/10.3906/sag-2007-228
Ayuse, T., Sawase, H., Ozawa, E., Nagata, K., Komatsu, N., Sanuki, T., Kurata, S., Mishima, G., Hosogaya, N., Nakashima, S., Pinkham, M., Tatkov, S., & Nakao, K. (2020). Study on prevention of hypercapnia by nasal high flow in patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography during intravenous anesthesia. Medicine, 99(19), e20036. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000020036
Carron, M., Tamburini, E., Safaee Fakhr, B., De Cassai, A., Linassi, F., & Navalesi, P. (2022). High-flow nasal oxygenation during gastrointestinal endoscopy: Systematic review and meta-analysis. BJA Open, 4, 100098. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjao.2022.100098
Cha, B., Lee, M.-J., Park, J.-S., Jeong, S., Lee, D. H., & Park, T. G. (2021). Clinical efficacy of high-flow nasal oxygen in patients undergoing ERCP under sedation. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 350. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-79798-7
Chainaki, I. G., Manolaraki, M. M., & Paspatis, G. A. (2011). Deep sedation for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopacreatography. World Journal of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 3(2), 34–39. https://doi.org/10.4253/wjge.v3.i2.34
Chen, D., Heunks, L., Pan, C., Xie, J., Qiu, H., Yang, Y., & Liu, L. (2022). A novel index to predict the failure of high-flow nasal cannula in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure: A pilot study. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 206(7), 910–913. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.202203-0561LE
Chen, N., Song, D. D., Qiu, Z. H., Cui, B., & Diao, Y. G. (2023). [Effect of high flow nasal catheter oxygen to prevent hypoxemia in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography surgery in aged]. Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi, 103(41), 3273–3278. https://doi.org/10.3760/cma.j.cn112137-20230414-00612
Cove, M. E., & Pinsky, M. R. (2021). Rethinking alveolar ventilation and CO2 removal. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 203(3), 277–278. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.202008-3306ED
Fraser, J. F., Spooner, A. J., Dunster, K. R., Anstey, C. M., & Corley, A. (2016). Nasal high flow oxygen therapy in patients with COPD reduces respiratory rate and tissue carbon dioxide while increasing tidal and end-expiratory lung volumes: A randomised crossover trial. Thorax, 71(8), 759–761. https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2015-207962
Frat, J.-P., Quenot, J.-P., Badie, J., Coudroy, R., Guitton, C., Ehrmann, S., Gacouin, A., Merdji, H., Auchabie, J., Daubin, C., Dureau, A.-F., Thibault, L., Sedillot, N., Rigaud, J.-P., Demoule, A., Fatah, A., Terzi, N., Simonin, M., Danjou, W., … SOHO-COVID Study Group and the REVA Network. (2022). Effect of high-flow nasal cannula oxygen vs standard oxygen therapy on mortality in patients with respiratory failure due to COVID-19: The SOHO-COVID randomized clinical trial. JAMA, 328(12), 1212–1222. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2022.15613
Gamal, M., Kamal, M. A., Abuelazm, M., Yousaf, A., & Abdelazeem, B. (2022). Meta-analysis comparing the efficiency of high-flow nasal cannula versus low-flow nasal cannula in patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings, 35(4), 485–491. https://doi.org/10.1080/08998280.2022.2062554
Hong, H., Li, X.-X., Li, J., & Zhang, Z.-Q. (2021). High-flow nasal cannula versus nasal continuous positive airway pressure for respiratory support in preterm infants: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 34(2), 259–266. https://doi.org/10.1080/14767058.2019.1606193
Kim, S. H., Bang, S., Lee, K.-Y., Park, S. W., Park, J. Y., Lee, H. S., Oh, H., & Oh, Y. J. (2021). Comparison of high flow nasal oxygen and conventional nasal cannula during gastrointestinal endoscopic sedation in the prone position: A randomized trial. Canadian Journal of Anesthesia / Journal Canadien d’anesthésie, 68(4), 460–466. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12630-020-01883-2
Lin, Y., Zhang, X., Li, L., Wei, M., Zhao, B., Wang, X., Pan, Z., Tian, J., Yu, W., & Su, D. (2019). High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy and hypoxia during gastroscopy with propofol sedation: A randomized multicenter clinical trial. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 90(4), 591–601. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gie.2019.06.033
Mikalsen, I. B., Davis, P., & Øymar, K. (2016). High flow nasal cannula in children: A literature review. Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine, 24(1), 93. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13049-016-0278-4
Mohamed, A. M., & Selima, W. Z. (2025). HFNC oxygen therapy vs COT in prolonged upper gastrointestinal endoscopy inside the ICU: A prospective, randomized, controlled clinical study. Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine, 29(3), 223–229. https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10071-24919
Nishimura, M. (2015). High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy in adults. Journal of Intensive Care, 3(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40560-015-0084-5
Pal, P., & Ramchandani, M. (2024). Management of ERCP complications. Best Practice & Research. Clinical Gastroenterology, 69, 101897. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpg.2024.101897
Petkar, S., Wanjari, D., & Priya, V. (2024). A comprehensive review on high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy in critical care: Evidence-based insights and future directions. Cureus, 16(8), e66264. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.66264
Ramnarayan, P., Richards-Belle, A., Drikite, L., Saull, M., Orzechowska, I., Darnell, R., Sadique, Z., Lester, J., Morris, K. P., Tume, L. N., Davis, P. J., Peters, M. J., Feltbower, R. G., Grieve, R., Thomas, K., Mouncey, P. R., Harrison, D. A., Rowan, K. M., & FIRST-ABC Step-Down RCT Investigators and the Paediatric Critical Care Society Study Group. (2022). Effect of high-flow nasal cannula therapy vs continuous positive airway pressure following extubation on liberation from respiratory support in critically ill children: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA, 327(16), 1555–1565. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2022.3367
Roca, O., Hernández, G., Díaz-Lobato, S., Carratalá, J. M., Gutiérrez, R. M., Masclans, J. R., & Spanish Multidisciplinary Group of High Flow Supportive Therapy in Adults (HiSpaFlow). (2016). Current evidence for the effectiveness of heated and humidified high flow nasal cannula supportive therapy in adult patients with respiratory failure. Critical Care, 20(1), 109. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-016-1263-z
Sawase, H., Ozawa, E., Yano, H., Ichinomiya, T., Yano, R., Miyaaki, H., Komatsu, N., Ayuse, T., Kurata, S., Sato, S., Pinkham, M. I., Tatkov, S., Ashizawa, K., Nagata, K., & Nakao, K. (2023). Respiratory support with nasal high flow without supplemental oxygen in patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography under moderate sedation: A prospective, randomized, single-center clinical trial. BMC Anesthesiology, 23(1), 156. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-023-02125-w
Thomas, T., Khor, Y. H., Buchan, C., & Smallwood, N. (2024). Implementing high-flow nasal oxygen therapy in medical wards: A scoping review to understand hospital protocols and procedures. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(6), 705. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21060705
Thiruvenkatarajan, V., Dharmalingam, A., Arenas, G., Wahba, M., Steiner, R., Kadam, V. R., Tran, A., Currie, J., Van Wijk, R., Quail, A., & Ludbrook, G. (2020). High-flow nasal cannula versus standard oxygen therapy assisting sedation during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in high risk cases (OTHER): Study protocol of a randomised multicentric trial. Trials, 21(1), 444. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-020-04378-z
Wang, L., Zhang, Y., Han, D., Wei, M., Zhang, J., Cheng, X., Zhang, Y., Shi, M., Song, Z., Wang, X., Zhang, X., & Su, D. (2025). Effect of high flow nasal cannula oxygenation on incidence of hypoxia during sedated gastrointestinal endoscopy in patients with obesity: Multicentre randomised controlled trial. BMJ, e080795. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2024-080795
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Valentina Ješić, Vesna Zupančić

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.




