The primary objective of this study is to compare arterial oxygenation during the periods of apnea following preoxygenation and apneic ventilation with tidal volume breathing for 3 min with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) versus with transnasal humidified rapid-insufflation ventilatory exchange (THRIVE).
This prospective randomized study was conducted in 20 adult patients at a tertiary care institution.
Group C patients ( n = 10) were preoxygenated with 100% oxygen using a face mask at a rate of 6 L/min for 3 min with CPAP of 15 cm of H 2O. In Group H, oxygen was administered using THRIVE at 30 L/min for 3 min. Apneic ventilation was given in Group C with 10 L/min oxygen with CPAP of 15 cm H 2O and in Group H with THRIVE at 60 L/min. The endpoint was desaturation to 90% or maximum duration of 12 min.
Both groups tolerated apnea for 12 min without desaturation. PaO 2 in Group C was significantly higher than Group H from 3 min of apnea to 12 min. The PaCO 2 was significantly lower in Group C from 6 min. The pH was comparable in both groups except at 12 min with Group H having significantly lower pH.