High-velocity nasal oxygen treatment in cats with breathing problems

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe the use and feasibility of high-velocity nasal insufflation (HVNI) in cats. DESIGN: Retrospective descriptive study from 2019 to 2022. SETTING: University teaching hospital. ANIMALS: Eight cats that failed traditional oxygen therapy and, based on clinical evaluation, required more aggressive oxygen supplementation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Eight cats had HVNI instituted between 2019 and 2022. Four cats received HVNI for primary pulmonary disease, including two with severe nodular pulmonary patterns, one with acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to septic shock, and one with diffuse hepatization of multiple lung lobes. Two cats received HVNI for airway disease, including one with feline asthma and one with chronic bronchiolar injury. One cat received HVNI due to pleural space disease secondary to failed herniorrhaphy repair for a peritoneal-pericardial diaphragmatic hernia, and one had an unknown cause of respiratory distress. No cat received HVNI due to cardiac disease. The median time spent on HVNI was 17 h (range, 2-76 h). The median flow rate was 1 L/kg (range, 0.612-2.68 L/kg). The median highest FiOrecorded was 100% (range, 50%-100%), and the median lowest was 52.5% (range, 40%-100%). Three cats had HVNI successfully discontinued, and two cats survived to discharge. All cats tolerated HVNI with no reported complications. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report to evaluate the use of HVNI for respiratory support in cats, demonstrating that HVNI is a feasible option in cats requiring more aggressive respiratory support than traditional oxygen therapy.