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Background and Objective
Persistent dyspnoea is a public health issue for which the therapeutic arsenal is limited. This study tested high‐flow nasal cannula therapy (HFNT) as a means to alleviate experimental dyspnoea.
Methods
Thirty‐two healthy subjects underwent an experimental dyspnoea induced by thoracoabdominal elastic loading. HFNT was administered with alternately FiO2 of 100% (HFNT100) or 21% (HFNT21). The sensory (S‐VAS) and affective (A‐VAS) components of dyspnoea, transcutaneous CO2 pressure (PtcCO2), pulse‐oximetry oxygen saturation (SpO2), heart rate, respiratory rate and skin galvanometry were monitored continuously. Three experimental sessions of 8 min were conducted: the first session consisted in familiarization with the experimental dyspnoea and the next two sessions tested the effects of HFNT100 and HFNT21 alternatively in a randomized order.
Results
HFNT21 and HFNT100 significantly reduced dyspnoea, respectively of ∆A‐VAS = 0.80 cm [−0.02–1.5]; p = 0.007 and ∆A‐VAS = 1.00 cm [0.08–1.75]; p < 0.0001; ∆S‐VAS = 0.70 cm [−0.15–1.98]), p < 0.0001 and ∆S‐VAS = 0.70 cm [0.08–1.95]), p = 0.0002) with no significant difference between HFNT21 and HFNT100. HFNT did not significantly alter the respiratory rate or the heart rate, reduced PtcCO2 only on room air and GSR under both experimental conditions.
Conclusion
HFNT was associated with a statistically significant reduction in the intensity of the sensory and affective components of dyspnoea, independent of oxygen addition. This relief of laboratory dyspnoea could result from a reduction of afferent‐reafferent mismatch.
High‐flow nasal cannula therapy relieves acute experimental breathlessness induced by thoracoabdominal elastic loading in healthy subjects, independent of oxygen addition. Modulation of the central integration of respiratory afferences may be involved in the dyspnoea alleviation.