Protocolized Weaning of High-Flow Nasal Cannula in Adult Patients

High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is a type of oxygen therapy commonly used in adults with breathing problems. While HFNC can help patients avoid breathing tubes and improve oxygen levels, there is no standard method for deciding how and when to reduce and stop this therapy once a patient improves. In many hospitals, these decisions vary from clinician to clinician. This study will compare usual care with a standardized step-by-step plan for reducing HFNC support. Eight hospitals will participate and will switch from usual care to the standardized plan at different time points during the study. The main goal is to determine whether the standardized weaning plan increases the number of patients who can successfully stop HFNC within 5 days. The study will also evaluate how long patients remain on HFNC, whether they need additional breathing support, and how long they stay in the hospital. The results may help develop clearer guidance for safely and efficiently stopping HFNC therapy.

NCT Number	NCT07452406
Lead Sponsor	Rush University Medical Center Collaborators: The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shanghai Zhongshan Hospital, Binzhou Medical University, First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Changhai Hospital
Conditions	Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure, High-Flow Nasal Cannula Therapy
Enrollment	2,000 participants
Start Date	2026-09-01
Primary Completion	2028-03-31 (estimated)
Study Completion	2028-06-28 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-06-10