Official Terminology for Heated High-Flow Oxygen Therapy
The official name is "High-Flow Nasal Cannula" (HFNC) or "High-Flow Nasal Oxygen" (HFNO), with both terms used interchangeably in major clinical guidelines. 1, 2
Standardized Nomenclature
The most authoritative sources use these terms consistently:
High-Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) - This is the predominant term used by the European Respiratory Society in their 2022 clinical practice guidelines 1
High-Flow Nasal Oxygen (HFNO) - This is the term adopted by the American College of Physicians in their 2021 clinical guideline 2
Both terms refer to the same respiratory support device and are considered equivalent in clinical practice.
Technical Definition
HFNC/HFNO is formally defined as a respiratory support device that delivers warm and humidified oxygen via a nasal cannula at flows higher than the patient's inspiratory flow (up to 60 L/min) 2. The key distinguishing features that define this therapy include:
- Active heating and humidification of gases
- High flow rates (typically 30-60 L/min in adults)
- Delivery through a non-sealing nasal interface
- Ability to deliver precise FiO2
Alternative Terms in Literature
While HFNC and HFNO are the official designations, you may encounter these variations:
- "Heated humidified high-flow nasal cannula" - emphasizes the active heating component 3
- "High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy" - full descriptive term 4, 5
- THRIVE (Transnasal Humidified Rapid-Insufflation Ventilatory Exchange) - a specific application technique used primarily during procedural sedation and intubation 6
For clinical documentation, ordering, and communication, use either "High-Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC)" or "High-Flow Nasal Oxygen (HFNO)" as these are the standardized terms recognized by major professional societies 1, 2.