In France, the average incidence of thoracic trauma is 10,000 to 15,000 each year. These patients are at risk of early and late post traumatic respiratory complications as follows: pneumonia, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), hypoxemia. Main issues of thoracic trauma management were recently published by French anesthesiologist and intensivist experts. Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) was recommended in case of severe hypoxemia (PaO2/FiO2 < 200). In comparison to conventional oxygenation or mechanical ventilation, NIV reduced length of stay, incidence of complications and mortality in case of severe hypoxemia. For mild or moderate hypoxemic patients, no devices were tested to prevent respiratory complications. At the moment, low-flow oxygenation is administered to these patients in the absence of severe hypoxemia. Recently, many studies have found promising results with high-flow oxygenation delivered by nasal cannula. This device has many physiological advantages: wash out the naso-pharyngeal dead space, increase end expiratory lung volume, deliver a moderate or low level of Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), improve work of breathing and confort. Several randomized controlled trials tested this device in many clinical settings, but there are no studies on its use after thoracic trauma. A comparative trial is needed to evaluate early prophylactic administration of high-flow oxygenation after thoracic trauma.

TrOMaTho study is an investigator-initiated, randomized, unblinded, controlled trial. The aim of this study is to compare a prophylactic use of high-flow nasal cannula oxygenation (experimental group) to low-flow oxygenation (control group) after thoracic trauma. 770 patients will be included. Randomization will be conducted with random block and patients will be randomized in 1:1 ratio in one of the two groups. Randomization process will be stratified on: age (more or less 65 years old), use of peridural analgesia and existence of extra thoracic trauma. Only the oxygenation technique is studied, all other aspects of management will be handle by the attending physician.

All patients will be followed from enrollment to hospital discharge. To ensure the same data collection in all centers, six visits are planned: day (D) 1 (inclusion), D7, D14, D28.

Classical blinded methods cannot be used for the evaluation of these kinds of devices. To ensure the same evaluation for all patients and in all centers, all relevant outcomes will be evaluated by an independent clinical event committee. Statistical analysis will be performed by an independent statistician.

Primary endpoint will be analyzed according to intention to treat. Secondary outcomes will be analyzed as exploratory analysis.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Major patient (age ≥ 18 years),
• Admitted to intensive care unit for less than 48 hours for the management of chest trauma.
• Closed chest trauma, non-penetrating, with a TTSS score> or equal to 4.
• Need for conventional oxygen therapy to maintain SpO2 greater than or equal to 95%.
• Patient affiliated or beneficiary of a social security scheme
• Patient having signed a consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe hypoxemia defined as a PaO2/FiO2 ratio < 200 noted before randomization

• Recommended indication for NIV: cardiogenic pulmonary oedema, decompensated COPD.

• Indication to immediate oro-tracheal intubation. (will not be excluded patients requiring general anaesthesia for a surgical procedure for a peripheral surgical procedure or embolization)

  • Patient with acute respiratory distress, whatever the cause.
  • Hemodynamic instability marked by a fall of the PAS> 30% or a PAS <110 mmHg despite the initial resuscitation measures
  • Neurological degradation with Glasgow score less than 12

• Pregnant or lactating woman

• Patient under guardianship or curatorship

• Contraindication to the use of one or both devices studied (decaying facial trauma)

All collected data that underlie results in a publication

Data will be available beginning five years and ending fifteen years following the final study report completion

Data access requests will be reviewed by the internal committee of Brest UH. Requestors will be required to sign and complete a data access agreement.