Objective  To investigate the clinical efficacy of high-flow nasal canula (HFNC) and conventional nasal catheter oxygen therapy in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease combined with type Ⅱ respiratory failure.

  Methods  Seventy-five patients with AECOPD combined with type Ⅱ respiratory failure were divided into the control group (n=36) and the experimental group (n=39). The control group was given conventional nasal catheter oxygen therapy on the basis of conventional treatment, while the experimental group was given HFNC on the basis of conventional treatment. The changes of arterial oxygen partial pressure p_a(O₂), arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure p_a(CO₂), oxygen saturation (SpO₂), respiratory frequency, heart rate, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC), sputum viscosity, and sputum volume were compared in the two groups.

  Results  After treatment, the improvement of p_a(CO₂), respiration rate, heart rate, sputum viscosity and sputum volume in the experimental group showed significant difference compared with those in the control group (P< 0.05).

  Conclusion  HFNC is superior to traditional nasal catheter oxygen therapy in the treatment of patients with AECOPD combined with type Ⅱ respiratory failure, which can effectively improve the ventilation efficiency, decrease the respiratory rate, and reduce the repeated inhalation of carbon dioxide.