Table 1. Comparison of different methods of respiratory support.

PEEP: Positive end-expiratory pressure; HFNC: High-flow nasal cannulae; NIV: Non-invasive ventilation.

Type of respiratory support	Benefits	Limitations	Complications
Conventional oxygen therapy	Easy to use, no additional training required and accessible everywhere, no delay in initiation, and patients can eat and drink while therapy is ongoing	No humidification and limited patient comfort due to mouth dryness	Possible over-oxygenation
High-flow nasal cannulae	Heating and humidification improve patient comfort and compliance, PEEP effect, washout of dead space, mucociliary clearance, decreased work of breathing, and patients can eat and drink while therapy is ongoing	Not always available in all settings and requires additional training	Possible over-oxygenation and delay in intubation
Non-invasive ventilation	Greater PEEP effect than HFNC, alveolar recruitment, reduction of left ventricular afterload, and reduced respiratory muscle workload	Reduced patient comfort due to tight-fit mask and no humidification, increased dead space, requires additional training, and patients cannot eat and drink while therapy is ongoing	Pneumothorax, gastric distension, aspiration pneumonia, pressure ulcers, increased skin breakdown of the nasal bridge and cheeks, hemodynamic instability, and delay in intubation
Invasive mechanical ventilation	All benefits of HFNC and NIV, control of parameters, and in-built alarms	Specialist skills therefore only available in the presence of an anesthetist/intensivist	Lung or airway injury during the procedure, esophageal intubation, dislodgement of the endotracheal tube, ventilator-associated pneumonia, sepsis, pneumothorax, aspiration, and hemodynamic instability