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Research suggests that apneic oxygenation is of benefit during rapid sequence intubation (NEJM JW Emerg Med Sep 2017 and Am J Emerg Med 2017; 35:1184). Apneic oxygenation involves use of high-flow oxygen via a nasal cannula during laryngoscopy. In practice, it means that patients who may require intubation are given a nasal cannula and a non-rebreather mask or noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV).
To evaluate whether a nasal cannula causes the NPPV mask to leak, investigators enrolled 64 healthy volunteers in a crossover study in which each participant served as his or her own control. Participants underwent 1 minute of NPPV with a nasal cannula and 1 minute of NPPV without a nasal cannula, in random order, with a 2-minute washou…