High-Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Therapy during Deep Intravenous Sedation for Cataract Surgery in the Elderly: A Case Report

Abstract

Nancy Abou Nafeh, Alain Harb, Cynthia Karam, Raghad Mroueh and Amro Khalili*

In a multidisciplinary approach between the anesthesiologist and the ophthalmologist, we report the successful use of High-Flow Nasal Canula (HFNC) oxygen therapy in a sedated, obese, anxious, old patient undergoing cataract surgery under deep Intravenous (IV) sedation to eliminate his upper airway obstruction, heavy snoring, apnea, and oxygen desaturation while using a regular nasal cannula for oxygen supply, thus avoiding the need for general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation or case cancellation.