High Flow Nasal Cannula Rates in Pediatric Asthma

March 23, 2026 updated by: Michele E. Smith, University of Rochester

High Flow Nasal Cannula Rates in Pediatric Asthma Exacerbations: A Feasibility Study

This is a randomized, open-label, 3-armed feasibility trial will examine conventional oxygen therapy (COT) vs high flow nasal cannula at 4L/min flow vs HFNC at 2L/kg/min flow (max 60L/min) in moderate to severe pediatric asthma exacerbations.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Withdrawn

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The purpose of this feasibility trial is to examine the safety and efficacy of high flow nasal cannula in moderate to severe pediatric asthma exacerbations. Eligible patients will be admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) after initial presentation to the emergency department (ED) or as a transfer from an outside hospital ED. Patients will be admitted to the PICU on standard asthma therapy (continuous albuterol and systemic corticosteroids) based on the discretion of the treating ED physician. Upon PICU admission, eligible patients will be consented, enrolled, and randomized into the study. All patients will be continued on standard asthma therapy of continuous albuterol at 20mg/hr and systemic intravenous corticosteroids. Patient will be randomized into one of three groups: (1) conventional oxygen therapy at 2L/min via standard facemark (control group), (2) high flow nasal cannula at 4L/min, and (3) high flow nasal cannula at 2L/kg/min (max 60L/min). Pediatric Respiratory Assessment Measure (PRAM) scores and vital signs will be taken at baseline and hourly for two hours. After the two-hour long study is completed, patients will be placed on a respiratory support modality as per the treating physician's discretion. Patients will be followed longitudinally after study completion.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • New York
      • Rochester, New York, United States, 14642
        • University of Rochester Medical Center
      • Rochester, New York, United States, 14642
        • University of Rochester Golisano Children's Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 2-17 years old with prior clinical diagnosis of asthma
  • Admitted to PICU on standard asthma therapy defined as continuous albuterol and systemic corticosteroids
  • Admitted to PICU on either COT or HFNC
  • Admitted to PICU from either Golisano Children's Hospital ED or as a transport from an outside hospital ED within 6 hours of initial presentation
  • PRAM score greater than or equal to 4 after completion of initial ED therapy

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Admitted to the PICU on NIV or invasive mechanical ventilation
  • Admitted to the PICU from general floors or > 6 hours from initial presentation
  • Presence of a tracheostomy or baseline NIV requirement
  • Pregnancy
  • Immunocompromised State

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
No Intervention: Conventional Oxygen Therapy (COT)
Conventional Oxygen Therapy (COT) is the standard way to deliver oxygen to hypoxemic pediatric patients during an acute asthma exacerbation. Continuous albuterol will be administered via an aerogen set-up (aerogen mask, aerogen ultra, and a vibrating mesh nebulizer). Oxygen tubing will be connected to the wall and run at 2L/min as per the aerogen manufacturer's instructions.
Experimental: "Low Flow" High Flow Nasal Cannula at 4L/min
A Fisher Paykl humidifier will be used for high flow humidification along with a flow meter and oxygen blender. A vibrating mesh nebulizer will be connected between the flow meter and the humidifier as per routine practice. Oxygen flow will be set to 4L/min and patient will be fitted with appropriately sized nasal prongs.
Device: "Low Flow" High Flow Nasal Cannula
High Flow Nasal Cannula will be applied in both experimental groups but different flow rates will be used in each arm; this arm will use lower flow rates.
Experimental: "High Flow" High Flow Nasal Cannula at 2L/kg/min (max 60L/min)
A Fisher Paykl humidifier will be used for high flow humidification along with a flow meter and oxygen blender. A vibrating mesh nebulizer will be connected between the flow meter and the humidifier as per routine practice. Oxygen flow will be set to 2L/kg/min (max 60L/min) and patient will be fitted with appropriately sized nasal prongs.
Device: "High Flow" High Flow Nasal Cannula
High Flow Nasal Cannula will be applied in both experimental groups but different flow rates will be used in each arm; this arm will use higher flow rates.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Percent of participants enrolled
Time Frame: 12 months
Percent of participants randomized divided by the percent of participants approached.
12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mean Change in Pediatric Respiratory Assessment Measure (PRAM) Score
Time Frame: Baseline to 2 hours
The Pediatric Respiratory Assessment Measure (PRAM) Score is a validated tool to measure asthma severity in pediatric patients. It is a scale that ranges from 0-12 with scores 4-7 indicating moderate asthma exacerbation and scores of 8-12 indicating severe exacerbation. The score has also been shown to be responsive to asthma therapies, with a decrease in score being indicative of improvement. PRAM scores will be measured at the start of the trial, at hour 1 and at the completion of the trial at hour 2. Mean changes in PRAM score will be compared across all three groups.
Baseline to 2 hours
Mean Change in Respiratory Rate
Time Frame: Baseline to 2 hours
The mean change in respiratory rate during the two our study period across all 3 study groups will be compared.
Baseline to 2 hours
Mean Total Duration of Continuous Albuterol
Time Frame: Approximately 3 days
Children will be followed longitudinally until hospital discharge and record the total duration of hours patients spent on continuous albuterol.
Approximately 3 days
Percentage of Children with Escalation of Respiratory Support
Time Frame: 1 day
The percentage of children requiring an increase in respiratory support (defined as escalation of support to HFNC of any flow rate, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), bilevel positive airway pressure (BPAP), invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)) either during the 2-hour trial period, immediately upon completion, or within the first 24 hours of study enrollment time will be recorded.
1 day
Mean Total Duration of Respiratory Support
Time Frame: Until hospital discharge, approximately 5 days
Children will be followed longitudinally until hospital discharge and the total duration of hours patients spent on any respiratory support modality including COT, HFNC, noninvasive ventilation (NIV), invasive ventilation (IMV), or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) will be recorded.
Until hospital discharge, approximately 5 days
Percentage of Participants placed on Adjunct Asthma Therapies
Time Frame: Until hospital discharge, approximately 5 days
Investigators will describe how many children in each group were placed on adjunct asthma therapies including magnesium, heliox, leukotriene receptor antagonists, intravenous beta agonist therapies, and methylxantines either before, during, or after study period.
Until hospital discharge, approximately 5 days
Percentage of Participants who needed Sedation
Time Frame: Until hospital discharge, approximately 5 days
Investigators will record how many children in each group required sedation and/or anxiolytics while on their respiratory support modality either during the trial or afterwards.
Until hospital discharge, approximately 5 days
Percentage of Participants on Antibiotics
Time Frame: Until hospital discharge, approximately 5 days
Investigators will record how many children completed full 5-7 day courses of antibiotics for bacterial pneumonia concurrent with their asthma exacerbation.
Until hospital discharge, approximately 5 days
Mean PICU Length of Stay (LOS)
Time Frame: Until hospital discharge, approximately 3 days
Investigators will follow children longitudinally to record the amount of time children were admitted to the PICU for.
Until hospital discharge, approximately 3 days
Mean Hospital Length of Stay (LOS)
Time Frame: Until hospital discharge, approximately 7 days
Investigators will follow children longitudinally to record the amount of time children were admitted to the hospital for.
Until hospital discharge, approximately 7 days

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Rochester

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: MicheleE E Smith, MD, University of Rochester

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 15, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
January 15, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
September 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 10, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 22, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 23, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 27, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 23, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • STUDY00009285

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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