PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Barry Murphy AU - Marc Mac Giolla Eain AU - Mary Joyce AU - James B. Fink AU - Ronan MacLoughlin TI - Evaluation of aerosol drug delivery with concurrent low and high flow nasal oxygen AID - 10.1183/23120541.00220-2022 DP - 2022 Jan 01 TA - ERJ Open Research PG - 00220-2022 4099 - http://openres.ersjournals.com/content/early/2022/07/19/23120541.00220-2022.short 4100 - http://openres.ersjournals.com/content/early/2022/07/19/23120541.00220-2022.full AB - Question addressed by study Administration of aerosol to patients receiving high flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) ranges from concurrent aerosol delivery by mouthpiece to aerosol via cannula alone. This study examines the conditions to provide optimal aerosol delivery with low or high flow nasal oxygen with concurrent mouthpiece or through nasal cannula alone, and the impact on fugitive aerosols.Materials and Methods A vibrating mesh nebulizer delivered salbutamol via mouthpiece, aerosol holding chamber and nasal cannula to an adult head model simulating relaxed breathing. The inhaled dose (%) (mean±sd) was assayed from a filter distal to the trachea. Optical particle sizers were used to measure fugitive aerosol concentrations during aerosol delivery.Results Concurrent low flow nasal oxygen (LFNO) and aerosol delivery with a mouthpiece and aerosol holding chamber increased the inhaled dose (%) available, 31.44±1.33% when supplemented with 2 LPM of nasal oxygen. Concurrent HFNO above 30 LPM resulted in a lower inhaled dose (%) compared to aerosol delivered through HFNO alone. The addition of concurrent low or high flow nasal oxygen resulted in no increase in aerosol levels in the test room.Answer to question posed Concurrent low flow nasal oxygen with a mouthpiece and aerosol holding chamber is an effective and safe means of aerosol delivery.FootnotesThis manuscript has recently been accepted for publication in the ERJ Open Research. It is published here in its accepted form prior to copyediting and typesetting by our production team. After these production processes are complete and the authors have approved the resulting proofs, the article will move to the latest issue of the ERJOR online. Please open or download the PDF to view this article.