New Trial Compares Oxygen Treatments for Serious Breathing Failure

The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) has shared findings from a clinical trial looking at the best way to deliver oxygen to patients with acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure — a condition where the lungs cannot get enough oxygen into the bloodstream. The trial compared high-flow nasal oxygen, which delivers a faster, warmer, and more humid stream of air through the nose, against standard oxygen therapy.

NEJM Editorial Fellow Katerina Lin, MD, summarised the key results of the trial in a post shared by the journal’s official account.

High-flow nasal oxygen (sometimes called HFNO) has been used increasingly in hospital settings, including NHS intensive care and respiratory wards, as an alternative to standard face-mask or nasal-prong oxygen for patients in serious breathing difficulty. The question of which approach produces better outcomes for patients has been an active area of research.

The trial’s full results are published in the NEJM for clinicians and researchers to review.

If you or someone you know is experiencing breathing difficulties, do not wait — call 999 in an emergency or contact NHS 111 for urgent medical advice. Your GP can also advise on any ongoing respiratory concerns.