High-flow oxygen deemed safe for pediatric tubeless airway surgery

Editor's Note

New findings show that compared to standard anesthetic methods, a new high-flow oxygen technique is just as safe as during tubeless upper airway surgery in children. 

Published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, the University of Queensland research-- the High-Flow Oxygen for Children's Airway Surgery (HAMSTER) trial—was the focus of a June 12 article from Medical Xpress. It examined 497 children as well as anesthetist and ear, nose, and throat surgeons from 5 tertiary hospitals in Australia, comparing standard delivery of oxygen during anesthesia with a technique which delivers oxygen at much higher rates via small nasal prongs.

Findings showed that high-flow delivery was uninterrupted and successful in 89% of cases, compared to 88% of cases using standard care, providing another option for children undergoing such procedures. According to researchers quoted in the article, the results eliminate uncertainty about optimal oxygenation methods during surgery.