COST-BENEFIT-ANALYSIS OF NASAL CANNULAE IN NON-TRACHEALLY INTUBATED SUBJECTS

We evaluated four nasal cannulae used to deliver oxygen and measure PE TCO(2) in a non-tracheally intubated, healthy population. The effect o f various oxygen flow rates on PETCO(2) and respiratory rate (RR), as well as the cost and relative patient comfort of the cannulae, was com pared. In this controlled study, 20 healthy volunteers tested the cann ulae using oxygen flow rates of 0 (breathing room air), 2, 4, and 6 L/ min. The volunteers rated the comfort of each cannula on a scale from 1 (uncomfortable) to 10 (comfortable). Hospital costs of the cannulae were also compared. All of the cannulae, except the Hospitak nasal can nula (HOS), demonstrated an oxygen flow dependency with respect to PET CO(2) and RR. The HOS cannula was judged by the study population to be the most comfortable and was the second least expensive cannula teste d. From a qualitative standpoint, the carbon dioxide waveform recorded with the HOS cannula was the one least affected by oxygen flow. Of th e nasal cannula systems evaluated in this study, the HOS system demons trated the best cost-benefit ratio, performing well clinically while b eing comfortable to wear and relatively inexpensive. These conclusions are specific to a healthy population and not to patients with lung di sease, those who smoke, or those having a higher ASA classification st atus. Our evaluation suggests that comfort and clinical performance of nasal cannulae may well depend on device design.