What is the risk associated with the HFNC if not monitored correctly?

High-Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) therapy provides high flow, heated, and humidified oxygen to patients, which improves oxygenation and may help reduce the work of breathing. However, if HFNC is not monitored appropriately, there is a risk of barotrauma.

Barotrauma refers to injury resulting from increased pressure in the lungs due to excessive airway pressures. When HFNC is used, if the flow rates and pressures exceed the patient’s tolerance or are not adjusted to the patient's needs, it can lead to overdistension of the alveoli. This excessive pressure can cause damage to the alveolar membranes, potentially resulting in air leaks into the surrounding lung tissue, pleural space, or mediastinum. Monitoring is crucial to ensure that the delivered flow rate is appropriate and doesn’t exceed the safe pressure limits for the patient’s respiratory system.

Inadequate oxygen delivery, while a concern, would relate to problems with the setup or flow rates, rather than a direct consequence of incorrect monitoring that leads to immediate harm. Pneumothorax and respiratory arrest are serious complications, but they are typically less directly associated with HFNC than barotrauma. Hence, the focus on pressure-related injuries makes barotrauma the