Intrahospital Transport in Patients With High-flow Nasal Oxygenation: Prospective Observational Study (HospiFlow)

Intrahospital Transport in Patients With High-flow Nasal Oxygenation: Prospective Observational Study.

High-flow nasal oxygen therapy is commonly used in intensive care unit (ICU). Intra-hospital transfer of critical patients is frequent: 1) to perform diagnostic 2) between emergency room or medical wards and ICU. During theses transfers, oxygenation should be continued.

There is high-flow nasal oxygen therapy for transport using an external battery. This mode of operation in transport mode allows about 30-45 min of autonomy.

Intra-hospital transport under high-flow nasal oxygen therapy has been previously described on children.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the occurrence of complications during intra-hospital transports under high-flow nasal oxygen of critical patients.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Critical Illness
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Evaluation of the incidence and nature of adverse events

Detailed Description

High-flow nasal oxygen therapy is commonly used in intensive care unit (ICU). Intra-hospital transfer of critical patients is frequent: 1) to perform diagnostic 2) between emergency room or medical wards and ICU. During theses transfers, oxygenation should be continued.

There is high-flow nasal oxygen therapy for transport using an external battery. This mode of operation in transport mode allows about 30-45 min of autonomy.

Intra-hospital transport under high-flow nasal oxygen therapy has been previously described on children.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the occurrence of complications during intra-hospital transports under high-flow nasal oxygen of critical patients.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 175

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Dax, France
    • Hospital Center of DAX
  • Martigues, France
    • CH de Martigues
  • Orléans, France, 45067
    • CHU Orléans
  • Vannes, France, 56017
    • CH Bretagne Atlantique Vannes-Auray

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

All patients requiring intra-hospital transfer on high-flow nasal oxygen therapy will be eligible to participate in the study

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient treated with high-flow nasal oxygen therapy before the intra-hospital transport prior to transport
• Requiring an intra-hospital transport (e.g., CT scan, OR, etc.) or inter-departmental transport supervised by the ICU team

Nb: Once the patient is included in the study, any intra-hospital transport under high-flow nasal oxygen therapy will be analyzed until discharge from the intensive care unit and at until D28.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Under 18 years old
• Patient being under guardianship, tutorship or curatorship
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Lack of social security number
• Refusal to participate in the study

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Incidence of severe adverse events during intra-hospital transport	To evaluate the incidence of severe adverse events during intra-hospital transport of patients treated with high-flow nasal oxygen surpervised by an ICU staff. Severe adverse event is defined by the occurrence of intubation during transport or severe hypoxemia defined as pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2 < 80%) or cardiorespiratory arrest.	Up to 28 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Incidence of minor adverse events during intra-hospital transport	To evaluate the incidence of minor adverse events during intra-hospital transport of patients treated with high-flow nasal oxygen surpervised by an ICU staff. Minor adverse event is defined by the occurrence of the need to increase the FiO2 or a pull-out of nasal cannulas or the use of an alternative mode of oxygenation (standard oxygen or noninvasive ventilation) or a failure of high-flow nasal oxygenation system (ie battery failure)	Up to 28 days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Centre Hospitalier Régional d'Orléans
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Mai-Anh NAY, Dr, CHU d'Orléans

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Nay MA, Bisson A, Auvet A, Delbove A, Berrouba A, Kamel T, Desgrouas M, Boulain T. Intra-hospital transport of adult critically ill patients treated with high flow nasal cannula oxygen: a prospective observational multicenter study. Ann Intensive Care. 2025 Jul 8;15(1):93. doi: 10.1186/s13613-025-01502-7.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 28, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 4, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): May 4, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 23, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 31, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): April 5, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): December 23, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 22, 2025
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: intensive care units; High-flow nasal oxygenation; critical ill patients; intra-hospital transport
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Disease Attributes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Critical Illness
• Other Study ID Numbers: CHRO-2022-01

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