Transtracheal oxygen therapy for refractory hypoxemia
K. L. Christopher, B. T. Spofford, P. K. Brannin and T. L. Petty
Eight patients with chronic severe and refractory hypoxemia were treated
with a new transtracheal oxygen catheter. All patients demonstrated an
arterial oxygen partial pressure of less than 55 mm Hg on high-flow nasal
cannula therapy. Refractory hypoxemia was successfully treated in all eight
patients following initiation of transtracheal oxygen therapy at 2.5 to 6.0
L/min. Arterial oxygen partial pressure was 50% greater and oxygen flow
requirements were 72% less with transtracheal oxygen. There were no
complications related to the procedure and oxygen flow rates up to 6 L/min
were well tolerated. Although four patients died, four remain clinically
stable with adequate oxygenation at up to 20 months' follow-up. All eight
patients experienced an improvement in quality of life with transtracheal
oxygen.
