The Utility of High-Flow Nasal Oxygen Therapy in a Patient with Pneumonia Undergoing Lower Limb Orthopaedic Surgery: A Case Report

Abstract

A high-flow nasal cannula is commonly used to manage hypoxic respiratory failure. High-flow nasal cannula not only reduces respiratory effort and work of breathing but also provides better patient comfort. It lowers mortality compared to standard oxygen therapy or non-invasive ventilation and is associated with more ventilator-free days. A 60-year-old female presented for the correction of ankle fracture with pneumonia and successfully underwent lower limb orthopaedic surgery under the subarachnoid block with the use of high-flow nasal oxygen therapy. High-flow nasal cannula may be considered as one of the useful options for intraoperative management of pneumonia in patients undergoing lower limb surgery under regional anaesthesia.