Uso da cânula nasal de alto fluxo no tratamento da bronquiolite aguda em lactentes

Acute viral bronchiolitis is a leading cause of hospital admission in infants; in severe cases, it can progress to respiratory distress requiring ventilatory support. Given this, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC)—a therapy that delivers a heated and humidified mixture of air and oxygen—has been adopted as a respiratory support strategy. This study aims to analyze the role of HFNC as a respiratory support strategy in the clinical management of acute viral bronchiolitis in infants and to describe the physiological mechanisms involved in this therapy. This is an integrative literature review, employing a qualitative approach and a descriptive focus, with data collected from the PubMed, Virtual Health Library (VHL), Cochrane Library, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) databases. Following the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, six articles were analyzed, consisting of four randomized clinical trials and two systematic reviews. The findings indicate that HFNC therapy prevents clinical deterioration and the need for treatment escalation when low-flow oxygen therapy is insufficient. Regarding comparisons with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), the studies reached varying conclusions. It is concluded that HFNC is an effective resource for infants with acute viral bronchiolitis, particularly as a subsequent step following low-flow oxygen therapy; however, its use as an alternative to CPAP requires further investigation through larger, multicenter clinical trials.