Using a high-flow nasal cannula provides superior results to OxyMask delivery in moderate to severe bronchiolitis: a randomized controlled study

The effectiveness of using a face mask with a small diffuser for oxygen delivery (OxyMask) was compared to use of a high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in patients with moderate or severe bronchiolitis. The study population in this open, phase 4, randomized controlled trial consisted of 60 patients aged 1–24 months diagnosed with moderate or severe bronchiolitis and admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) for oxygen therapy. The patients were randomized into two groups according to the method of oxygen delivery: a diffuser mask group and an HFNC group. There were seven failures in the mask group and none in the HFNC group. The survival probability differed significantly between the two treatment methods ( p = 0.009). Time to weaning off oxygen therapy was 56 h in the HFNC group and 96 h in the mask group ( p