Comparison Between High-flow Nasal Cannula System and Non-invasive Ventilation in Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure

Exclusion Criteria

• •age \< 18 years
• •hypercapnia (arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) \>45mmHg) at admission
• •need for emergency intubation, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• •recent esophageal, facial or cranial trauma or surgery
• •severely decreased consciousness (Glasgow coma score \<11)
• •cardiogenic shock or severe hemodynamic instability
• •systolic blood pressure \<90 mmHg associated with decreased urinary output(\<20 mL.h-1) despite fluid repletion and use of vasoactive agents
• •lack of co-operation
• •altered mental status with decreased consciousness and/or evidence of inability to understand or lack of willingness to co-operate with the procedures
• •tracheotomy or other upper airway disorders
• •severe ventricular arrhythmia or active myocardial ischemia
• •active upper gastrointestinal bleeding
• •inability to clear respiratory secretions
• •more than one severe organ dysfunction in addition to respiratory failure