Clinical application and progress in preoxygenation techniques

Airway management is often a life-saving procedure for patients. However, during airway management, difficult ventilation and difficult intubation are not always predictable. Preoxygenation, a crucial technique to improve oxygen reserves, plays a vital role in preventing hypoxemia during anesthesia induction. Preoxygenation technology and equipment are not monolithic. With the development of preoxygenation equipment and technology, the effect of preoxygenation has been improved, and it can be applied to different clinical settings. We conducted a literature search (PubMed and Scopus) in October 2023 with a starting date of January 1985, repeated in August 2024, to identify relevant articles. Key search terms included: 'preoxygenation,' 'high-flow nasal oxygenation,' 'non-invasive ventilation,' 'obese patients,' 'pediatric patients,' and 'elderly patients.' The abstracts of identified articles were assessed for relevance, along with screening of their references for further relevant publications. A full-text review of 219 articles was undertaken, of which 77 were included in the final review. Preoxygenation is really effective, and different preoxygenation equipment and technology can be applied in different clinical settings to improve the oxygen reserve of patients, thereby ensuring patient safety and improving patient outcome.