Table 1.

Physiological effects of humidified high-flow therapy

Physiological effect	Impact
Mucociliary clearance	Optimised respiratory epithelial function
	Improved mucociliary transport in bench studies
Dead space washout	Reduced anatomical dead space
	Carbon dioxide washout and oxygen reservoir
Improved pulmonary mechanics	Reduced work of breathing
	Increased lung compliance
	Improved gas exchange
	Improved ventilation homogeneity