Meta-analysis comparing the efficiency of high-flow nasal cannula versus low-flow nasal cannula in patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) identifies and treats pancreatic and biliary diseases. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis examining relevant papers in five databases to examine the frequency of hypoxia throughout the surgery and the lowest oxygen saturation level in patients under sedation. Our meta-analysis included three randomized controlled trials with 390 participants, 196 in the high-flow oxygen (HFNC) group and 194 in the low-flow oxygen (LFNC) group. Their ages ranged from 65.3 to 79 years. The pooled effect estimate showed that HFNC decreased the incidence of hypoxia during the procedure when compared to LFNC (odds ratio -0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.65, -0.02; = 0.04), and the mean of lowest oxygen saturation in patients during sedation was significantly lower in LFNC compared to HFNC (mean difference 2.34; 95% CI 1.35, 3.32; = 0.001). The pooled effect estimate showed that the HFNC group had a lower incidence rate of jaw thrusting adverse events during anesthesia than the LFNC group (risk difference -0.12; 95% CI -0.21, -0.04; = 0.001). In summary, HFNC systems reduced the incidence of hypoxia for patients undergoing ERCP and had a higher mean lowest oxygen saturation during sedation.