Natalini D, Grieco DL, Santantonio MT, et al. - Researchers investigated how gas exchange, respiratory rate and endotracheal pressure were influenced by rising flow rates of high-flow oxygen delivered through tracheostomy (HFOT_TRACHEAL) in this cross-over study. They also compared lower airway pressure generated by high-flow oxygen therapy via nasal cannula (HFOT_NASAL) and HFOT_TRACHEAL. Participants were 26 tracheostomized patients who were administered standard oxygen therapy via a conventional heat and moisture exchanger, and then HFOT_TRACHEAL via a heated humidifier, with gas flow fixed at 10, 30 and 50 L/min. Findings revealed the requirement for 50 L/min of HFOT_TRACHEAL vs standard oxygen in order to improve oxygenation, decrease respiratory rate and offer a small degree of positive airway expiratory pressure, which, however, was significantly lower as compared with the one generated by HFOT_NASAL.