Nasal Cannula
A medical device made of plastic tubing that is utilized to deliver supplemental airflow or oxygen to a person that requires respiratory assistance is called a nasal cannula. Wilfred Jones is the inventor of this apparatus and it was patented by his employer Brin’s Oxygen Company in 1949. The use of nasal cannula is the least invasive way of providing supplemental oxygen.
A nasal cannula is usually connected to an oxygen tank, compressor, generator, or wall connection outlet by a flowmeter on one end and contains a loop at the other side that is composed of two soft and flexible plastic slightly curved prongs. A nasal cannula fits readily into the patient’s nares and the tubing of the loop is hooked over the ears and tightened by a sliding connector under the chin to secure the said apparatus.
An adult nasal cannula can carry 1 to 6 liters of oxygen per minute. While for neonatal nasal cannula, which also consists of smaller prongs to fit the neonates, it can provide less than one liter of oxygen per minute. With flow rates of 1 to 6 liters or 0.26 to 1.58 gallons per minute, a nasal cannula can only deliver 28% to 44% oxygen concentration.
Nasal Cannula Information
The reason why a nasal cannula is used is to supply the required concentrated forms of oxygen to patients who are hypoxic or those who have inadequate oxygen levels in the body tissue and blood. There are several situations and conditions that prompt hypoxia and hypoxemia and it necessitates supplemental oxygen administration. It includes respiratory diseases, low blood hemoglobin, severe blood loss, cardiac diseases, severe electrolyte imbalances, trauma, and seizures.
Moreover, a nasal cannula is only applied on persons who can breathe tolerably on their own through their noses. The use of nasal cannula is not designated for patients who are mouth breathers, has poor respiratory effort, apnea, blocked nasal passages, and severe hypoxia.
Increasing oxygen levels in the body to a normal or almost normal status is generally successful with oxygen administration through the use of a nasal cannula. Furthermore, the call for more invasive procedures like intubation and mechanical ventilation will be prevented upon immediate treatment of the above said conditions through its utilization. Otherwise, if the condition becomes severe and chances wherein the use of nasal cannula is inefficient, oxygen masks or respirators will be required.
Despite the benefits that can be offered by oxygen therapy through nasal cannula, complications may still arise. Mild complications can involve skin irritation and breakdown around the site of the nasal cannula, sore throat, dry mouth, dry lips, dry nasal passages, and nosebleed. Severe complications can also include decreased hypoxic drive in persons with chronic lung disease, and respiratory arrest caused by high levels of blocked carbon dioxide in the body.
For safety purposes, it is important to post a “No Smoking” sign when administering oxygen. Also, the oxygen humidifier must be half-filled with water to humidify the oxygen received by the patient flowing through the nasal cannula. Moreover, to check whether the oxygen therapy via nasal cannula is effective for the person, pulse oximetry or blood gas analysis must be conducted. Nasal cannula is indeed a great discovery for oxygen administration in the medical field.
A picture of a Nasal Cannula.