The Effect of Asymmetrical vs. Symmetrical High Flow Nasal Cannula on the Work of Breathing

July 15, 2025 updated by: Ioannis Pantazopoulos, Larissa University Hospital

The Effect of Asymmetrical vs. Symmetrical High Flow Nasal Cannula on the Work of Breathing: A Randomised Cross-over Study

The goal of this study randomized single-center crossover study is to evaluate the impact of asymmetrical versus symmetrical nasal high flow (NHF) therapy on work of breathing (WOB). The main question it aims to answer are:

1. Does the asymmetrical NHF interface improve the work of breathing compared to the symmetrical NHF interface? Researchers will compare the symmetrical NHF interface to the symmetrical NHF interface to see if the the asymmetrical interface has a greater impact on the work of breathing.

Participants will :

  1. receive NHF via both interfaces (FiO₂ 0.21, 50 L/min) for 15 minutes, in random order, with esophageal pressure monitoring and bioelectrical impedance analysis performed.
  2. baseline characteristics will me monitored throughout the interventions
  3. Esophageal pressure and minute ventilation will be monitored.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Each participant will undergo all phases of the study while seated comfortably, breathing room air. Vital signs, including blood pressure, heart rate, and peripheral oxygen saturation (%SpO₂), will be continuously monitored and recorded throughout.

Respiratory mechanics will be assessed using esophageal pressure (Pes) monitoring. A thin latex balloon catheter (10 cm long, 3-5 cm circumference; Cooper surgical, USA), filled with 0.5 mL of air, will be placed in the mid-esophagus (~45 cm from the nares) and will be connected to a pressure transducer (RSS-100HR, Hans Rudolph Inc., USA). Correct positioning will be confirmed by observing equal fluctuations in Pes and airway pressure (Paw) during occluded breaths. Balloon integrity will be verified before, after, and as needed during the procedure.

Participants will be instructed to breathe quietly on room air (FiO₂ 0.21) to allow for baseline assessment. Volume will be recorded using a heated pneumotachometer (Series 3813; Hans Rudolph Inc., USA) and the Research Pneumotach System (RSS100-HR), sampling at 50 Hz, a sampling rate exceeding the Nyquist criterion for respiratory signals. A bioelectrical impedance technology device (ExSpiron, Respiratory Motion Inc., Waltham, MA) will then be attached around the chest to assess lung volume changes.

Participants will then be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to one of two intervention sequences using a computer-generated randomization schedule.

  • Sequence 1: Symmetrical NHF Interface - 3-minute washout period - Asymmetrical NHF Interface
  • Sequence 2: Asymmetrical NHF Interface - 3-minute washout period - Symmetrical NHF Interface In the seated position, participants will both 15-minute phases, separated by a 3-minute washout period to prevent residual effects. During the "Symmetrical Interface" phase, participants will breathe using the conventional symmetrical NHF cannula, and during the asymmetrical phase, the asymmetrical interface (DUET, Fisher and Paykel Healthcare, Auckland, New Zealand) will be used. High-flow oxygen will be delivered using a commercial system (AIRVO 3; Fisher and Paykel Healthcare, Auckland, New Zealand) set at a flow of 50 L/min, temperature of 37°C, and FiO₂ of 0.21.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

30

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • Greece
      • Larissa, Greece, 41222
        • Recruiting
        • University Hospital of Larissa, Department of Pulmonary Medicine
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Ioannis Dr Pantazopoulos, Associate Professor

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. age ≥18 years old
  2. absence of symptoms and signs of respiratory failure (SpO2>95% at FiΟ2 0.21)

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. pregnancy
  2. SpO2<94% at FiΟ2 0.21
  3. neuromuscular disease
  4. contraindications to esophageal pressure monitoring (e.g., uncontrolled coagulopathy, esophageal disease, nasal trauma, allergy to local lidocaine)

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: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Recovery patients from respiratory disease - Asymmetric or conventional nasal high flow cannula
Patients recovered from acute respiratory disease will be randomized to NHF oxygen therapy with asymmetrical cannula or conventional cannula
Device: Asymmetric nasal cannula - DUET
DUET asymmetric nasal high flow interface that fits best to patients' nostrils (size: one nostril of the patient should be fully occluded) Patients will be crossed - over between the 2 interventions
Device: Conventional nasal high flow cannula
Well - established conventional nasal high flow cannula (size: medium) Patients will be cross - over between the 2 interventions
Active Comparator: Recovery patients from respiratory disease - Conventional or asymmetric nasal high flow cannula
Patients recovered from acute respiratory disease will be randomized to NHF oxygen therapy with conventional cannula or asymmetrical cannula
Device: Asymmetric nasal cannula - DUET
DUET asymmetric nasal high flow interface that fits best to patients' nostrils (size: one nostril of the patient should be fully occluded) Patients will be crossed - over between the 2 interventions
Device: Conventional nasal high flow cannula
Well - established conventional nasal high flow cannula (size: medium) Patients will be cross - over between the 2 interventions

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in the pressure time product after the use of symmetrical high flow nasal interface for 15 minutes.
Time Frame: Baseline and 15 minutes
This outcome measures the change in the Pressure-Time Product (PTP) before and after the application of a symmetrical high-flow nasal interface (HFNI) in patients requiring noninvasive respiratory support. The PTP is a physiological index that reflects the work of breathing and respiratory muscle effort. It is calculated using airway pressure and inspiratory time data over a defined period. The primary goal is to assess whether the symmetrical HFNI leads to a measurable reduction in the PTP, indicating improved respiratory mechanics and decreased patient effort.
Baseline and 15 minutes
Change in the pressure time product after the use of asymmetrical nasal high flow interface for 15 minutes.
Time Frame: Baseline and 15 minutes
This outcome measures the change in the Pressure-Time Product (PTP) before and after the application of a symmetrical high-flow nasal interface (HFNI) in patients requiring noninvasive respiratory support. The PTP is a physiological index that reflects the work of breathing and respiratory muscle effort. It is calculated using airway pressure and inspiratory time data over a defined period. The primary goal is to assess whether the asymmetrical HFNI leads to a measurable reduction in the PTP, indicating improved respiratory mechanics and decreased patient effort.
Baseline and 15 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Larissa University Hospital

Investigators

  • Study Chair: Demosthenes Makris, Professor of Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Larissa

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)

April 9, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

September 1, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

September 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 24, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 3, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

July 15, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 18, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 15, 2025

Last Verified

July 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 16171

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

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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