Al-Ahli Hospital adds high-flow oxygen technique to its services

Dr. Mohammad Abd Al-Karim Al-Hashemi: It significantly improves the level of oxygen in the blood and decreases the re-breathing of carbon dioxide, which positively benefits the patient comfort and safety.

Dr. Mohammad Abd Al-Karim Al-Hashemi: It can be used in hospital departments, and Al-Ahli Hospital is the only hospital in Qatar that uses this modern technique of anesthesia in the GI endoscopy unit.

Al-Ahli Hospital announced the addition of the high-flow oxygen technique to the services it provides to patients. It is used to deliver oxygen in a higher flow and in the desired concentration to the patient during the anesthesia period, within which the amount of oxygen in the blood is usually reduced. 

This technique is considered one of the modern and promising techniques in anesthesiology. It is characterized by its ability to produce positive air pressure and significantly improve the level of oxygen in the blood.

Dr. Mohammad Abd Al-Karim Al-Hashemi, Anesthesia Consultant and Head of Anesthesia Department at the hospital, said that the high flow generates a reservoir of oxygen, decreases the re-breathing of carbon dioxide and increases the rate of ventilation. It also maintains an excellent degree of mucosal hydration and decreases the dryness of the upper airways, which improves patient comfort. 

He added: “High-flow oxygen therapy also provides patients with non-invasive respiratory support in addition to warm, humid, oxygen-rich air with a high flow rate”.

Dr. Al- Hashemi emphasized that the use of high-flow oxygen is usually for spontaneously breathing patients who need oxygen at higher flow rates. Treatment with high-flow oxygen also provides respiratory support for patients with acute respiratory failure due to hypoxia.

Al-Hashemi added that high-flow oxygen can also prevent post intubation and help to greatly increase the oxygen content in the blood, improve respiratory rate and relieve shortness of breath, which is reflected in patient comfort, in addition to helping patients to recover faster after removing the tube, which leads to improved results and shorter stay in the intensive care unit. 

He indicated that it is also economically beneficial in reducing the need to use a respirator and it can be used in various hospital departments, pointing out that Al-Ahli Hospital is currently the only hospital in Qatar that uses this device for anesthesia in the GI endoscopy unit, which contributed significantly to reducing the risks of anesthesia on patients, especially those who suffer from obesity and obstruction of the airways. This reflected positively on the safety and level of services provided to our dear guests.