When to Use Apneic Oxygenation?

Clinical Take Home Point: Use of Apneic Oxygenation (ApOx) in adult patients requiring emergency intubation, without shunt physiology, in critical care settings, the ED, and retrieval settings is a low cost, low complexity maneuver, and reduces the incidence of hypoxemia and increases first pass intubation rates based ...

What is apneic oxygenation?

Apnoeic oxygenation involves the mass flow of a high fraction of inspired oxygen, aided by flushing of dead space, generation of positive airway pressure and cardiogenic oscillations. Higher flow rates can enable clearance of carbon dioxide.

What is the best way to deliver oxygen to an apneic patient?

Nasal cannula is used primarily for apneic oxygenation rather than pre-oxygenation. Previous recommendations were to place high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) with an initial oxygen flow rate of 4 L/min, then increase to 15 L/min to provide apneic oxygenation once the patient is sedated.