Nasal Cannula

ThadeusJ

ThadeusJ

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Had an interesting discussion about the preferred style of "nose hose" aka nasal cannula.

There are a million shapes and style out there and most often they are purchased based on price. If you had the choice, what's your preference: straight, curved, flared/non-flared, long...

No one usually cares until they get a set that they can't stand...so what are your preferences?
 
I didn't know anyone cared that much tiny plastic tips that rest up in a stranger's snout.


Interested to hear from those who do....
 
It was never an issue in the pre-hospital setting. Patients were never on O2 long enough to care.

IFT, discharges, and dialysis patients were more picky about their nasal cannulas, though I never noticed a style patients preferred.
 
The cheapest one available.
 
I've always heard "nose hose" as an NPA, not a cannula...
 
Jim37F said:
I've always heard "nose hose" as an NPA, not a cannula...
Click to expand...
Oops, my bad. You're right, I think this thread is about NPAs.
 
ThadeusJ said:
Had an interesting discussion about the preferred style of "nose hose" aka nasal cannula.
Click to expand...

Pretty sure it's about nasal cannulas.
 
The 911 service I wotk pt for just got new ones. They are super short and are stiff so they like to coil and get in the way. kind of annoying but manageable.
 
HHFNC @ 60lpm :blink:


But for real it works wonders on hypoxemic distress and non-compliment BiPAP patients.
 
We recently got a shipment of cannula a with elastic bands that go around the patients head. Those suck. That ends my real strong opinion base about nasal cannulae.

Which are not nose hoses. :) that's an NPA.
 
Thanks for the feedback and yes, I meant nasal cannula.

As I mentioned in the initial inquiry, most people don't care until there's an issue and then they're cranky. Although it hard to screw up cannula, someone, somewhere will find a way...I never thought about elastic straps...someone thought it was a good idea...
 
I prefer this one

EZArmManUpClose.jpg
 
ThadeusJ said:
Although it hard to screw up cannula, someone, somewhere will find a way...I never thought about elastic straps...someone thought it was a good idea...
Click to expand...

Those with the elastic straps may not cause as much damage around the ear as easily as those which loop plastic around them. Sometimes even two hours with the NC on can mean the start of skin break down which then will have to be reported.

In EMS for the short time, rarely is it an issue. But, if your NC is one of the stiffer types, these may need to be changed quickly to something more comfortable and less chance of skin breakdown once in the hospital. But then again that is not something you will need to be concerned about.
 
Anjel said:
I prefer this one

EZArmManUpClose.jpg
Click to expand...

That one is excellent but at $10 each it might not be the best for EMS. Many of our home care patients use this for comfort when awake (difficult to sleep with if a side sleeper) and it doesn't look like a nasal cannula at first glance in public. It is also capable of higher flows which might be needed in home care for those with pulmonary HTN, fibrosis and end stage COPD.

The Oxymizer is also great but expensive although worth every penny in home health or nursing homes which do not have piped in O2.
 
Clipper1 said:
Are all BLS trucks now able to monitor ETCO2? If not then it might not be cost effective to purchase something which is more expensive.
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If you have no BLS trucks at your company, and encourage ETCO2 monitoring for any patient requiring oxygen. Than this seems to make perfect sense. Kill 2 burns with one stone.
 
Clipper1 said:
Are all BLS trucks now able to monitor ETCO2? If not then it might not be cost effective to purchase something which is more expensive.
Click to expand...

qepera5e.jpg
 
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