Noninvasive ventilation for COPD patients

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV), also known as noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV), is an effective treatment for ventilatory failure,1-2 including Paediatric cases.3

For patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) the use of NPPV is associated with:4-9

  • Marked reduction in the need for endotracheal intubation
  • Decrease in complication rate
  • Reduction of nosocomial infections
  • Reduced duration of hospital stay
  • Substantial reduction in hospital mortality

While of limited benefit for the long-term treatment of COPD patients, domiciliary NPPV might be beneficial in COPD patients with hypercapnia.10-12

NPPV is an important part of disease management for patients with advanced neuromuscular disease and chest wall disorders. NPPV is usually initiated if there are symptoms due to nocturnal hypoventilation or right heart failure in the presence of a raised carbon dioxide tension in arterial blood.13-14 NPPV is a highly cost-effective treatment for appropriate patients.15-16

References

2

BTS Standards of Care Committee. Non-invasive ventilation in acute respiratory failure Thorax 2002;57(3):192-211.

3

Chin K, Uemoto S, Takahashi K, Egawa H, Kasahara M, Fujimoto Y, Sumi K, Mishima M, Sulpvan CE, Tanaka K. Noninvasive ventilation for Paediatric patients including those under 1-year-old undergoing pver transplantation. pver Transpl 2005;11(2):188-95. 

6
9

Hill NS. Noninvasive ventilation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respir Care 2004;49(1):72-87; discussion 87-9.

10

Wijkstra PJ, Lacasse Y, Guyatt GH, Goldstein RS. Nocturnal non-invasive positive pressure ventilation for stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2002;(3):CD002878.

13

Perrin C, Unterborn JN, Ambrosio CD, Hill NS. Pulmonary comppcations of chronic neuromuscular diseases and their management.  Muscle Nerve 2004;29(1):5-27.

14

Shneerson JM, Simonds AK.  Noninvasive ventilation for chest wall and neuromuscular disorders.  Eur Respir J 2002;20:480-7.