Skip Navigation

British Medical Bulletin 2005 72(1):83-97; doi:10.1093/bmb/ldh042
This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Elliott, M. W.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Elliott, M. W.
Related Collections
Right arrow Respiratory Medicine
Social Bookmarking
 Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Published online 31 March 2005

© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The British Council. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oupjournals.org

Non-invasive ventilation for acute respiratory disease

M. W. Elliott

St James’s University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK

Correspondence to: M. W. Elliott, St James’s University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK. E-mail: mwelliott{at}doctors.org.uk


    Abstract
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 In-hospital use of NIV
 Acute exacerbations of COPD
 Predicting the outcome from...
 NIV for hypoxaemic respiratory...
 Cardiogenic pulmonary oedema
 Why is NIV preferable...
 Contraindications
 Nursing/technical requirements...
 Starting NIV on a...
 Conclusion
 References
 
Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) has been shown to be effective in acute respiratory failure of various aetiologies in different health care systems and ward settings. It should be seen as complementary to invasive ventilation and primarily a means of preventing some patients from deteriorating to the point at which intubation is needed. Generally it is best initiated early before assisted ventilation is mandatory, although it has been shown to be effective even in very sick patients. Important benfits include the avoidance of endotracheal-tube-associated infections, which carry an important morbidity and mortality, and a reduction in health care costs. The most important ingredient for an acute NIV service is a well-trained enthusiastic ward team.


    Introduction
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 In-hospital use of NIV
 Acute exacerbations of COPD
 Predicting the outcome from...
 NIV for hypoxaemic respiratory...
 Cardiogenic pulmonary oedema
 Why is NIV preferable...
 Contraindications
 Nursing/technical requirements...
 Starting NIV on a...
 Conclusion
 References
 
Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is well established in the management of acute respiratory failure, particularly resulting from acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but also from hypoxaemic respiratory failure, community-acquired pneumonia and cardiogenic pulmonary oedema and after solid organ transplants. Its use in these settings has been assessed in many randomized controlled trials. It has also been used perioperatively, in the elderly and in patients with ‘do not intubate orders’. When NIV fails or is not deemed appropriate from the outset and there is subsequently difficulty in liberating the patient from invasive ventilation there may also be a role in weaning.1 This article will focus on acute exacerbations of COPD, hypoxaemic respiratory failure and cardiogenic pulmonary oedema, and will provide practical guidelines. Those who require more details, particularly those wishing to start an NIV service, for whom further reading and training are vital, are directed to a number of books and review articles.2–7.


    In-hospital use of NIV
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 In-hospital use of NIV
 Acute exacerbations of COPD
 Predicting the outcome from...
 NIV for hypoxaemic respiratory...
 Cardiogenic pulmonary oedema
 Why is NIV preferable...
 Contraindications
 Nursing/technical requirements...
 Starting NIV on a...
 Conclusion
 References
 
The model of hospital care differs from country to country and it is important from the outset to be clear what is meant by the different terms used. For the purposes of this article the following definitions are used. In an intensive care unit (ICU) there is continuous monitoring of vital signs with a high nurse-to-patient ratio maintained round the clock. A general ward takes unselected emergency admissions and, although most will have a particular specialty interest, it is likely that, because of the unpredictability of demand, patients with a variety of conditions and degrees of severity will be cared for in the same clinical area. Nurse staffing levels will vary, but the intensity of nursing input will be much lower than on the ICU, particularly at night. A high dependency unit (HDU) also involves continuous monitoring in a specified clinical area with a nurse-to-patient ratio between those of the ICU and the general ward, but closer to the former. In countries which have few ICU beds, nurses on general wards will be more experienced in looking after sicker patients. These issues are important when extrapolating results obtained in one health care system to another.


    Acute exacerbations of COPD
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 In-hospital use of NIV
 Acute exacerbations of COPD
 Predicting the outcome from...
 NIV for hypoxaemic respiratory...
 Cardiogenic pulmonary oedema
 Why is NIV preferable...
 Contraindications
 Nursing/technical requirements...
 Starting NIV on a...
 Conclusion
 References
 
Patients with acute exacerbations of COPD form the largest single group of those treated successfully using NIV techniques8, but success has been reported in many other conditions. The respiratory muscle pump in patients with severe COPD is often functioning close to the point at which it can no longer maintain effective ventilation. There are excessive elastic and resistive loads on it, because of hyperinflation and airways obstruction, respectively, and reduced capacity because of the adverse effect of hyperinflation on the configuration of the respiratory muscles, causing them to operate at a mechanical disadvantage. In addition the presence of intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) causes an inspiratory threshold load. In an acute exacerbation, when the load on the respiratory muscle pump becomes excessive, effective ventilation can no longer be maintained, worsening hypoxia, hypercapnia and, most importantly, acidosis. Acidosis is particularly deleterious to muscle function and the capacity of the respiratory muscle pump is further reduced. It was previously considered that respiratory muscle function may also be compromised by the development of muscle fatigue, because of the increased load, but recent data have established that, at least in the strictest sense, this is not so.9 A vicious circle develops of worsening acidosis causing further impairment of respiratory muscle function, which in turn has an adverse effect on pH and arterial blood gas tensions.

When NIV was applied in the ICU10–13, the most striking finding was a reduction in the need for endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation, which in the largest study translated into improved survival, reduced complication rates, and reduced length of both ICU and hospital stay.10 These studies showed that NIV is feasible in acute exacerbations of COPD and that the prevention of endotracheal intubation is advantageous. Because paralysis and sedation are not needed with NIV, ventilation outside the ICU is an option. Given the considerable pressure on ICU beds in most countries, the high costs, and the distress experienced by some patients during admission to the ICU, this is an attractive option. NIV can be instituted at an earlier stage in the natural history of the exacerbation before mechanical ventilation would normally be considered necessary. There have been a number of prospective randomized controlled studies of NIV outside the ICU either on general wards or in accident and emergency departments.14–20 NIV was instituted at a higher pH than that reported in the ICU studies and most failed to show any significant advantage of NIV when analysed on an intention-to-treat basis. However, in one study14 a significant survival benefit was seen (9/30 vs. 1/26) when those unable to tolerate NIV were excluded. These studies were all relatively small and may have lacked sufficient statistical power to show a difference in the need for intubation and mortality, given that most patients with a mild exacerbation of COPD (defined by the degree of acidosis) would not be expected to need endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation anyway.21 In a large (n=236) multicentre randomized controlled trial of NIV in acute exacerbations of COPD on general respiratory wards in 13 centres in the UK19 ‘treatment failure’, a surrogate for the need for intubation defined by a priori criteria, was reduced from 27% to 15% by NIV. In-hospital mortality was reduced from 20% to 10%. Subgroup analysis suggested that the outcome in patients with pH <7.30 after initial treatment was inferior to that in the studies performed in the ICU. NIV was applied by the usual ward staff, most of whom had had little or no previous experience, using a bilevel device in spontaneous mode according to a simple protocol. This study suggests that, with adequate staff training, NIV can be applied with benefit outside the ICU and that the early (pH <7.35 on admission to the ward) introduction of NIV on a general ward results in a better outcome than providing no ventilatory support for acidotic patients outside the ICU. The results in the more severely affected patients (pH <7.30 after initial management) were not as good as those seen in the ICU studies, suggesting that this simple approach is not appropriate in these patients and that they are best managed in a higher dependency setting with a more sophisticated ventilator individually adjusted to their requirements.

It is striking that in some studies NIV was administered for only a relatively short period (mean 7.6 h and 6 h daily)10,14 or at very modest levels for a longer period.11 It appears that even short periods of NIV are usually sufficient to break the vicious circle produced by acidosis while other therapies take effect upon the precipitating cause. When acidosis cannot be improved, the downward spiral continues and other measures, usually intubation, must be instituted unless contraindicated on other grounds.

The majority of studies excluded patients deemed to need intubation and mechanical ventilation. However Conti et al.22 reported a prospective randomized controlled trial of NIV vs. immediate endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation in patients with an exacerbation of COPD. Not surprisingly, their patients were sicker than those reported in previous studies, as evidenced by the mean pH of 7.2, compared with 7.27 in the study by Brochard et al.10 and 7.32 in the study by Plant et al.19. In these sicker patients, they showed that NIV was no worse than endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. In those who could be managed successfully with NIV there was an advantage not only in the short term but also in the year after hospital discharge in terms of a reduction in the need for hospital admission and de novo long-term oxygen therapy. This confirms the findings of two previous studies comparing NIV patients with historical controls who had been invasively ventilated.23,24. The increased need for de novo chronic oxygen therapy in the invasively ventilated group may reflect additional lung damage, perhaps a consequence of the increased risk of lung infection. The intubation rate of 52% in the NIV group in the study by Conti et al.22 was higher than in other randomized controlled trials, which is not surprising given that these were a sicker group of patients. However, it does reinforce the view that NIV is best instituted early.25 Some patients were excluded from the study, in particular those intubated prior to transfer to the ICU or those with respiratory arrest or pauses, psychomotor agitation requiring sedation, heart rate below 60 beats/min or systolic blood pressure below 80 mmHg. The key message from this study is that in all but the sickest patients with an exacerbation of COPD there is little to be lost, and much to be gained, by a trial of NIV.


    Predicting the outcome from NIV in acute COPD
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 In-hospital use of NIV
 Acute exacerbations of COPD
 Predicting the outcome from...
 NIV for hypoxaemic respiratory...
 Cardiogenic pulmonary oedema
 Why is NIV preferable...
 Contraindications
 Nursing/technical requirements...
 Starting NIV on a...
 Conclusion
 References
 
Data available at the time NIV is initiated and after a short period can predict the likelihood of success or failure with a reasonable degree of precision. The severity of acidosis at baseline emerges as an important predictor; although NIV is less likely to be effective when patients are more acidotic,10,26 this should not preclude a trial of NIV as the mode of ventilatory support of first choice because the benefits of NIV compared with intubation and mechanical ventilation are greater.10,22 The tolerance of NIV and the change in arterial blood gas tensions, particularly pH, and respiratory rate in the early hours are reasonable predictors of the subsequent outcome 10,14,26,27. NIV is less likely to be successful if there are associated complications or if the patient’s premorbid condition is poor.28,29 Late failure after initially successful NIV is a bad prognostic factor,29 with over half the patients dying even with invasive ventilation. This is more likely in patients with severe acidosis, poor functional status and complications. A clear distinction needs to be made between failure of ‘non-invasive’ (i.e. a problem with the interface. which may be solved by using different interface, such as an endotracheal tube) and failure of ventilation (i.e. no problem with the interface but despite this an inability to maintain effective ventilation, when invasive ventilation probably has little to offer) (Table 1).


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]

 
Table 1 Indications for and predictors of success of NIV

 


    NIV for hypoxaemic respiratory failure
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 In-hospital use of NIV
 Acute exacerbations of COPD
 Predicting the outcome from...
 NIV for hypoxaemic respiratory...
 Cardiogenic pulmonary oedema
 Why is NIV preferable...
 Contraindications
 Nursing/technical requirements...
 Starting NIV on a...
 Conclusion
 References
 
NIV has been used in patients with hypoxaemic (i.e. not hypercapnic) respiratory failure due to a variety of different conditions (e.g. acute respiratory distress sydrome, pneumonia, aspiration, trauma, the immunocompromised with lung infiltrates)30–32 and again the picture emerges that most is to be gained when it is instituted early. There is no reason in principle why NIV could not be attempted in most patients requiring ventilatory support for whatever indication (see below for contraindications). However, there are issues around the maximum fractional inspired oxygen concentration that can be achieved, particularly with ventilators primarily designed for home use, and the degree of ventilator dependence. Patients may be adequately oxygenated while receiving NIV but if they come off it, even for a short period, catastrophic hypoxia may ensue. Antonelli et al.30 compared intubation and conventional mechanical ventilation with NIV in patients with acute hypoxic respiratory failure of a variety of different aetiologies. Post hoc subgroup analysis of patients with simplified acute physiological scores of <16 and those of ≥16 showed that patients in the latter group had similar outcomes irrespective of the type of ventilation. However, NIV was superior to conventional mechanical ventilation in patients with a simplified acute physiological score <16. One problem with studies of this type is that the outcome from ICU is critically dependent upon the aetiology of the respiratory failure; small studies of patients with heterogeneous causes of respiratory failure lack sufficient power to determine confidently the effectiveness of the intervention.

Hilbert et al.33 conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial of NIV compared with standard treatment with supplemental oxygen and no ventilatory support in 52 immunosuppressed patients with pulmonary infiltrates and fever. Each group of 26 patients included 15 patients with haematological malignancy and neutropenia. Patients were recruited at an early stage of hypoxaemic respiratory failure. NIV (for at least 45 min) was alternated every 3 h with periods of spontaneous breathing with supplemental oxygen. Fewer patients in the NIV group required endotracheal intubation (12 vs. 20), had serious complications (13 vs. 21), died in the ICU (10 vs. 18) or died in hospital (13 vs. 21). The reason why relatively short periods of assisted ventilation should have been effective is interesting and open to speculation. Possible reasons include redistribution of extravascular fluid, alveolar recruitment and re-expansion of atelectatic lung, as well as the beneficial effects of pressure support on work of breathing, helping to maintain an adequate tidal volume and possibly allowing respiratory muscle recovery during periods of muscle unloading when on NIV. This study is in keeping with other studies in suggesting that early NIV can prevent intubation and therefore is best introduced early. The criteria on which patients were recruited to the study provide a useful starting point (Table 1) and NIV should now be strongly considered in such patients, provided that there are no contraindications.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has somesimilar physiological effects, is easier and cheaper to deliver and has been used in a variety of studies. However, in the only prospective randomized trial of CPAP versus standard therapy published to date there was no improvement in outcome (intubation rate and survival), although CPAP did result in a more rapid physiological improvement.34 A higher number of adverse events occurred with CPAP treatment (18 vs. 6). A number of patients in the CPAP group had cardiorespiratory arrests; the improvement in physiological parameters may engender a false sense of security, with patients having improved oxygenation etc. while using non-invasive CPAP, but if it is discontinued, even for a short period for drinking etc., oxygen saturation may fall catastrophically. Therefore current data favour NIV as the non-invasive mode of ventilatory support of choice, but the same caveat regarding the potential for sudden deterioration should be made.


    Cardiogenic pulmonary oedema
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 In-hospital use of NIV
 Acute exacerbations of COPD
 Predicting the outcome from...
 NIV for hypoxaemic respiratory...
 Cardiogenic pulmonary oedema
 Why is NIV preferable...
 Contraindications
 Nursing/technical requirements...
 Starting NIV on a...
 Conclusion
 References
 
Positive pressure has been shown to improve oxygenation, increase cardiac output and reduce the work of breathing. Several studies have evaluated the use of CPAP in acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema, and others have evaluated the use of bilevel positive airway pressure. Collectively, the available data suggests that CPAP is effective in terms of reduction in intubation rate and that there is a trend towards reduced mortality.35 NIV may be advantageous in patients with significant hypercapnia;36 the findings of an early study that NIV appeared to increase the rate of myocardial infarction compared with CPAP37 has not been borne out by further studies. In the enthusiasm to apply NIV it is vital that standard drug treatment is not forgotten; in particular, high doses of nitrates have shown to be important in improving outcome.38,39


    Why is NIV preferable to invasive ventilation?
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 In-hospital use of NIV
 Acute exacerbations of COPD
 Predicting the outcome from...
 NIV for hypoxaemic respiratory...
 Cardiogenic pulmonary oedema
 Why is NIV preferable...
 Contraindications
 Nursing/technical requirements...
 Starting NIV on a...
 Conclusion
 References
 
A reduction in complications, particularly infections, is a consistent feature of NIV.10,30,40,41. In intubated patients there is a 1% risk per day of developing pneumonia. This complication of invasive ventilation is associated with a longer ICU stay, increased costs and a worse outcome. The reduction in nosocomial infections is probably the most important advantage of avoiding endotracheal intubation by using NIV. This benefit is seen in the ‘real’ world42 as well as in the setting of a clinical trial; in a 3-week observational survey of 42 French ICUs the incidence of both nosocomial pneumonia (10% vs. 19%), and mortality (22% vs. 41%) was lower in NIV patients than in those with endotracheal intubation. This may reflect the fact that less severely unwell patients were treated with NIV. In addition, NIV has been shown to be cost effective in the ICU setting.43 If it can be performed outside the ICU, there are even greater savings to be made.44,45


    Contraindications
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 In-hospital use of NIV
 Acute exacerbations of COPD
 Predicting the outcome from...
 NIV for hypoxaemic respiratory...
 Cardiogenic pulmonary oedema
 Why is NIV preferable...
 Contraindications
 Nursing/technical requirements...
 Starting NIV on a...
 Conclusion
 References
 
There are no absolute contraindications to NIV, although a number have been suggested.26 These include coma or confusion, inability to protect the airway, severe acidosis at presentation, significant comorbidity, vomiting, obstructed bowel, haemodynamic instability (two studies have shown only small changes in cardiac output when NIV is initiated but haemodynamic collapse comparable to that often seen when patients are intubated is very rare), radiological evidence of consolidation, and orofacial abnormalities which interfere with the mask–face interface. In part, these ‘contraindications’ have been determined by the fact that they were exclusion criteria for the controlled trials. Therefore it is more correct to state that NIV is not proven in these circumstances rather than that it is contraindicated. Whether NIV should be attempted must depend on individual circumstances. For instance, if invasive ventilation is not considered appropriate, but NIV would be acceptable, there is nothing to be lost by a trial of NIV and there are no contraindications in this situation. NIV may not be appropriate in well-documented endstage disease or when several comorbidities are present.


    Nursing/technical requirements for NIV in acutely ill patients
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 In-hospital use of NIV
 Acute exacerbations of COPD
 Predicting the outcome from...
 NIV for hypoxaemic respiratory...
 Cardiogenic pulmonary oedema
 Why is NIV preferable...
 Contraindications
 Nursing/technical requirements...
 Starting NIV on a...
 Conclusion
 References
 
Whether NIV should be performed on an ICU, an HDU or a general ward will depend upon many factors (Table 2). Nurses, physiotherapists or respiratory therapists may be the primary caregivers, and this will depend upon local availability, enthusiasm and expertise. Patients who cannot sustain ventilation for more than a minute or two when acutely unwell require continuous observation, and it would not be appropriate to ventilate these patients on a general ward unless a nurse is in constant attendance. Patients with this severity of ventilatory failure are often confused and usually require high inflation pressures. Continuous observation is needed to ensure that the patient does not remove the mask and that leaks are minimized. Even if the patient does not remove the mask there is a tendency for the Velcro straps of the headgear to work loose gradually at high pressures and for mask leaks to develop. As the clinical situation changes, ventilator settings may need to be adjusted. If the decision is made for ventilation to be performed on a general ward, it is very important that sufficient nursing or technical staff are available to give the patient, if not continuous, at least very frequent attention. NIV is unlikely to be successful on a ward with low nurse-to-patient ratios and other ill patients requiring considerable input.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]

 
Table 2 Factors to be considered in deciding whether NIV should be performed on an ICU or on a general ward

 

Because many patients, particularly those with COPD, breathe through their mouths when dyspnoeic, a full facemask is usually required acutely and occasionally the use of a mouth piece may be helpful. Once tolerating NIV and symptomatically improved this can be changed to a nasal mask. Newer interfaces are constantly becoming available and may be suitable for some patients.46 Having established an adequate mask fit, it is essential to achieve and maintain adequate ventilation as soon as possible, as failure will often result in non-compliance with NIV. Oxygen saturation should be constantly monitored by pulse oximetry. Arterial blood gas tensions should be checked after 30–120 min and ventilator settings adjusted as necessary; gas tensions should then be rechecked. Oxygen entrainment into the ventilator circuit is often needed to maintain adequate levels of arterial oxygen saturation, typically judged to be ≥90%, but importantly high levels are not needed as these patients are acclimatized to hypoxia. The addition of oxygen even during NIV may still occasionally cause worsening hypercapnia, probably by increasing the ratio of dead space to tidal volume,47 and arterial blood gas tensions should be checked approximately 1 h after any change in oxygen flow rate. A ventilator with an oxygen blender should be used for patients with severe hypoxaemia, as it is not possible to deliver a high FiFormula2 when oxygen is added to the ventilator circuit because of the diluting effect of high airflow through the circuit as a consequence of leaks. Problems encountered with masks are outlined in Table 3.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]

 
Table 3 Common problems associated with masks

 

Humidification

NIV can cause an excess loss of water vapour, leading to thickened and tenacious secretions as well as the discomfort associated with a dry nose or mouth. In addition, increased nasal resistance has been described with CPAP leading to increased mouth leak, and there is no reason to believe that this will not also be a problem with NIV, particularly when pressure-cycled systems with high inspiratory flow rates are used.48 Therefore adequate fluid intake and humidification is vital. Although eating and drinking help to keep the mouth moist, when this is not possible regular mouth care is an important comfort for the patient. Saliva stimulants such as pineapple juice or chunks are useful, as are artificial saliva sprays and water-based lubricating gels to keep the mouth moist. The lips can be protected with a soft petroleum gel such as Vaseline. The prevention of mouth leaks minimizes flow and improves the efficacy of ventilation as well as helping to prevent mouth dryness. Humidification of the inspired gas must be considered for some mask-ventilated patients, and is mandatory for those patients with a tracheostomy. It can be achieved using a heat and moisture exchange filter, a waterbath humidifier or regular nebulized saline. A waterbath humidifier with a heated wire circuit is ideal but expensive. Heat and moisture exchange filters trap the moisture in the exhaled air and return it in the next breath. However there are disadvantages. As the filter becomes saturated with water and secretions, the resistance to gas flow increases. This may be particularly important with a pressure-cycled ventilator in which the gas flow received by the patient falls off as the resistance of the heat and moisture exchange filter increases. With both volume- and pressure-cycled machines the effort required to trigger a breath in the assist mode may increase. To minimize these problems, heat and moisture exchange filters should be changed at least daily. Heat and moisture exchange filters have to be fitted between the patient and the exhale port in the ventilator circuit, increasing the dead space, which reduces effective ventilation. Intermittent nebulization of saline is an alternative which can be used to supplement the use of heat and moisture exchange filters.

Nutrition

Breathless patients may find it difficult to eat, and this is further compromised if they are unable to remove the mask for sufficient time to masticate food. Liquid supplements are an alternative but nasogastric feeding may be more appropriate, particularly acutely, and oral medication can be given easily. Fine-bore feeding tubes do not significantly affect mask fit. The patient should not lie flat when being tube fed to reduce the risk of aspiration.

Inhaled drugs

Inhaled drugs can be administered during NIV by adding a nebulizer to the circuit. This can be done by using a T-piece positioned as close as possible to the patient, ideally between the exhale valve and the patient to prevent fall out and loss of the drug, although this does increase the dead space. Most nebulizers are suitable, but a nebulizer that is able to work at varying angles is useful as often the ventilator circuit is unsupported, leaving the nebulizer to function on its side. In addition, aerosols can be administered into the ventilator circuit using metered dose inhalers and spacer devices.49 Ideally, patients should receive their inhaled drugs off the ventilator, but this is obviously not possible if the patient is ventilator dependent in which case nebulization during NIV can be used.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy can be performed during NIV; indeed, it is sometimes more effective because the patient is less breathless and better able to cooperate.7 However physiotherapists require specific training.


    Starting NIV on a ward for the first time
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 In-hospital use of NIV
 Acute exacerbations of COPD
 Predicting the outcome from...
 NIV for hypoxaemic respiratory...
 Cardiogenic pulmonary oedema
 Why is NIV preferable...
 Contraindications
 Nursing/technical requirements...
 Starting NIV on a...
 Conclusion
 References
 
Nursing and technical staff should be adequately prepared and the necessary equipment must be available before NIV is first tried. Ideally, equipment as outlined above should be available, but this will often not be practical and, indeed, too much variety may cause confusion. Minimum requirements are outlined in Table 4.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]

 
Table 4 Basic needs for an acute NIV service

 

Staff should use the equipment on each other in a non-clinical setting and practise the theoretical knowledge and skills before using them on real patients. Two or three enthusiastic staff are a real boon, as they will often carry the rest of the team with them. Nurses with previous experience of the ICU or NIV are particularly useful since they will be confident with ventilators. An experienced practitioner should be available 24 h a day to help sort out problems until staff are able to solve them themselves. As experience is gained, different types of ventilator, new masks etc. can be added, widening the range of patients who can be successfully ventilated non-invasively.


    Conclusion
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 In-hospital use of NIV
 Acute exacerbations of COPD
 Predicting the outcome from...
 NIV for hypoxaemic respiratory...
 Cardiogenic pulmonary oedema
 Why is NIV preferable...
 Contraindications
 Nursing/technical requirements...
 Starting NIV on a...
 Conclusion
 References
 
NIV can be used with success in respiratory failure of various aetiologies, particularly acute exacerbations of COPD. It should be seen primarily as a means of avoiding the need for endotracheal intubation. There are few contraindications and usually little to be lost by a trial of NIV provided that there is a clear strategy of how to monitor progress and when to switch to invasive ventilation if the patient is not progressing satisfactorily. It is effective and cost effective and can be used in a wide variety of settings. When starting an NIV service, it should be kept as simple as possible and should begin with less severely ill patients. As expertise and confidence grow, more sophisticated equipment can be introduced and sicker patients treated. Training and education of the whole team—doctors, nurses and therapists—is key.

Accepted for publication February 14, 2005.


    References
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 In-hospital use of NIV
 Acute exacerbations of COPD
 Predicting the outcome from...
 NIV for hypoxaemic respiratory...
 Cardiogenic pulmonary oedema
 Why is NIV preferable...
 Contraindications
 Nursing/technical requirements...
 Starting NIV on a...
 Conclusion
 References
 

  1. Ferrer M, Bernadich O, Nava S, Torres A (2002) Noninvasive ventilation after intubation and mechanical ventilation. Eur Respir J, 19, 959–65.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  2. Mehta S, Hill NS (2001) Noninvasive ventilation. Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 163, 540–77.[Free Full Text]
  3. British Thoracic Society Standards of Care Committee (2002) Non-invasive ventilation in acute respiratory failure. Thorax, 57, 192–211.[Free Full Text]
  4. Brochard L, Mancebo J, Elliott MW (2002) Noninvasive ventilation for acute respiratory failure. Eur Respir J, 19, 712–721.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  5. Elliott MW, Confalonieri M, Nava S (2002) Where to perform noninvasive ventilation? Eur Respir J, 19, 1159–66.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  6. Muir J-F, Ambrosino N, Simonds AK (2001) Non-Invasive Mechanical Ventilation. Lausanne, Switzerland: European Respiratory Society.
  7. Simonds AK (2001) Non-Invasive Ventilatory Support (2nd edn). London: Chapman and Hall Medical.
  8. Lightowler JV, Wedzicha JA, Elliott MW, Ram FS (2003) Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation to treat respiratory failure resulting from exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ, 326, 185–9.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  9. Laghi F, Cattapan SE, Jubran A et al. (2003) Is weaning failure caused by low-frequency fatigue of the diaphragm? Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 167, 120–7.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  10. Brochard L, Mancebo J, Wysocki M, et al. (1995) Noninvasive ventilation for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. N Engl J Med, 333, 817–22.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  11. Kramer N, Meyer TJ, Meharg J, Cece RD, Hill NS (1995) Randomized, prospective trial of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in acute respiratory failure. Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 151, 1799–1806.[Abstract]
  12. Celikel T, Sungur M, Ceyhan B, Karakurt S (1998) Comparison of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation with standard medical therapy in hypercapnic acute respiratory failure. Chest, 114, 1636–42.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  13. Martin TJ, Hovis JD, Costantino JP et al. (2000) A randomized, prospective evaluation of noninvasive ventilation for acute respiratory failure. Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 161, 807–13.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  14. Bott J, Carroll MP, Conway JH et al. (1993) Randomised controlled trial of nasal ventilation in acute ventilatory failure due to chronic obstructive airways disease. Lancet, 341, 1555–7.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
  15. Barbe F, Togores B, Rubi M, Pons S, Maimo A, Agusti AGN (1996) Noninvasive ventilatory support does not facilitate recovery from acute respiratory failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Eur Respir J, 9, 1240–5.[Abstract]
  16. Wood KA, Lewis L, Von Harz B, and Kollef MH (1998) The use of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in the emergency department. Chest, 113, 1339–46.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  17. Angus RM, Ahmed AA, Fenwick LJ, Peacock AJ (1996) Comparison of the acute effects on gas exchange of nasal ventilation and doxapram in exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Thorax, 51, 1048–50.[Abstract]
  18. Bardi G, Pierotello R, Desideri M, Valdisseri L, Bottai M, Palla A (2000) Nasal ventilation in COPD exacerbations: early and late results of a prospective, controlled study. Eur Respir J, 15, 98–104.[Abstract]
  19. Plant PK, Owen JL, Elliott MW (2000) Early use of non-invasive ventilation for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on general respiratory wards: a multicentre randomised controlled trial. Lancet, 355, 1931–5.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
  20. Avdeev SN, Tret’iakov AV, Grigor’iants RA, Kutsenko MA, and Chuchalin AG (1998) [Study of the use of noninvasive ventilation of the lungs in acute respiratory insufficiency due exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]. Anesteziol Reanimatol 3, 45–51 (in Russian).
  21. Jeffrey AA, Warren PM, Flenley DC Acute hypercapnic respiratory failure in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease: risk factors and use of guidelines for management. Thorax, 47, 34–40.
  22. Conti G, Antonelli M, Navalesi P et al. (2002) Noninvasive vs. conventional mechanical ventilation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease after failure of medical treatment in the ward: a randomized trial. Intensive Care Med, 28, 1701–7.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
  23. Confalonieri M, Parigi P, Scartabellati A et al. (1996) Noninvasive mechanical ventilation improves the immediate and long-term outcome of COPD patients with acute respiratory failure. Eur Respir J, 9, 422–30.[Abstract]
  24. Vitacca M, Clini E, Rubini F, Nava S, Foglio K, Ambrosino N (1996) Non-invasive mechanical ventilation in severe chronic obstructive lung disease and acute respiratory failure: short- and long-term prognosis. Intensive Care Med, 22, 94–100.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
  25. Evans TW (2001) International Consensus Conference in Intensive Care Medicine: Non- Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation in Acute Respiratory Failure. Organised jointly by the American Thoracic Society, the European Respiratory Society, the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, and the Societe de Reanimation de Langue Francaise, and approved by the ATS Board of Directors, December 2000. Intensive Care Med, 27, 166–78.[CrossRef][Medline]
  26. Ambrosino N, Foglio K, Rubini F, Clini E, Nava S, Vitacca M (1995) Non-invasive mechanical ventilation in acute respiratory failure due to chronic obstructive airways disease: correlates for success. Thorax, 50, 755–7.[Abstract]
  27. Plant PK, Owen JL, Elliott MW (2001) Non-invasive ventilation in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: long term survival and predictors of in-hospital outcome. Thorax, 56, 708–12.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  28. Scala R, Bartolucci S, Naldi M, Rossi M, Elliott MW (2004) Co-morbidity and acute decompensations of COPD requiring non-invasive positive-pressure ventilation. Intensive Care Med, 30, 1747–54.[ISI][Medline]
  29. Moretti M, Cilione C, Tampieri A, Fracchia C, Marchioni A, Nava S (2000) Incidence and causes of non-invasive mechanical ventilation failure after initial success. Thorax, 55, 819–25.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  30. Antonelli M, Conti G, Rocco M, et al. (1998) A comparison of noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation and conventional mechanical ventilation in patients with acute respiratory failure. N Engl J Med, 339, 429–35.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  31. Confalonieri M, Potena A, Carbone G, Porta RD, Tolley EA, Meduri UG (1999) Acute respiratory failure in patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia. A prospective randomized evaluation of noninvasive ventilation. Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 160, 1585–91.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  32. Antonelli M, Conti G, Bufi M et al. (2000) Noninvasive ventilation for treatment of acute respiratory failure in patients undergoing solid organ transplantation: a randomized trial. JAMA, 283, 235–41.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  33. Hilbert G, Gruson D, Vargas F et al. (2001) Noninvasive ventilation in immunosuppressed patients with pulmonary infiltrates, fever, and acute respiratory failure. N Engl J Med, 344, 481–7.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  34. Delclaux C, L’Her E, Alberti C et al. (2000) Treatment of acute hypoxemic nonhypercapnic respiratory insufficiency with continuous positive airway pressure delivered by a face mask: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA, 284, 2352–60.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  35. Pang D, Keenan SP, Cook DJ, Sibbald WJ (1998) The effect of possitive pressure airway support on mortality and the need for intubation in cardiogenic pulmonary edema: a systematic review. Chest, 114, 1185–92.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  36. Nava S, Carbone G, DiBattista N et al. (2003) Noninvasive ventilation in cardiogenic pulmonary edema: a multicenter randomized trial. Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 168, 1432–7.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  37. Mehta S, Jay GD, Woolard RH et al. (1997) Randomized, prospective trial of bilevel versus continuous positive airway pressure in acute pulmonary oedema. Crit Care Med, 25, 620–8.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
  38. Sharon A, Shpirer I, Kaluski E et al. (2000) High-dose intravenous isosorbide-dinitrate is safer and better than Bi-PAP ventilation combined with conventional treatment for severe pulmonary edema. J Am Coll Cardiol, 36, 832–7.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  39. Crane SD, Elliott MW, Gilligan P, Richards K, Gray AJ (2004) Randomised controlled comparison of continuous positive airways pressure, bilevel non-invasive ventilation, and standard treatment in emergency department patients with acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema. Emerg Med J, 21, 155–61.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  40. Guerin C, Girard R, Chemorin C, De Varax R, Fournier G (1997) Facial mask noninvasive mechanical ventilation reduces the incidence of nosocomial pneumonia. A prospective epidemiological survey from a single ICU. Intensive Care Med, 23, 1024–32.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
  41. Girou E, Schortgen F, Delclaux C et al. (2000) Association of noninvasive ventilation with nosocomial infections and survival in critically ill patients. JAMA, 284, 2361–7.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  42. Carlucci A, Richard JC, Wysocki M, Lepage E, Brochard L (2001) Noninvasive versus conventional mechanical ventilation. An epidemiologic survey. Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 163, 874–80.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  43. Keenan SP, Gregor J, Sibbald WJ, Cook DJ, Gafni A (2000) Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in the setting of severe, acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: more effective and less expensive. Crit Care Med, 28, 2094–102.[CrossRef][ISI][Medline]
  44. Plant PK, Owen JL, Parrott S Elliott MW (2003) Cost effectiveness of ward based non-invasive ventilation for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: economic analysis of randomised controlled trial. BMJ, 326, 956–61.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  45. Carlucci A, Delmastro M, Rubini F, Fracchia C, Nava S (2003) Changes in the practice of non-invasive ventilation in treating COPD patients over 8 years. Intensive Care Med, 29, 419–25.[ISI][Medline]
  46. Elliott MW (2004) The interface: crucial for successful noninvasive ventilation. Eur Respir J, 23, 7–8.[Free Full Text]
  47. Stradling JR (1986) Hypercapnia during oxygen therapy in airways obstruction: a reappraisal. Thorax, 41, 897–902.[ISI][Medline]
  48. Richards GN, Cistulli PA, Ungar RG, Berthon-Jones M, Sullivan CE (1996) Mouth leak with nasal continuous positive airway pressure increases nasal airway resistance. Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 154, 182–6.[Abstract]
  49. Ceriana P, Navalesi P, Rampulla C, Prinianakis G, Nava S (2003) Use of bronchodilators during non-invasive mechanical ventilation. Monaldi Arch Chest Dis, 59, 123–7.[Medline]

Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
TraumaHome page
S. Yarham and P. Young
Ventilator-associated pneumonia and new airway technologies
Trauma, April 1, 2008; 10(2): 71 - 83.
[Abstract] [PDF]


This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Elliott, M. W.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Elliott, M. W.
Related Collections
Right arrow Respiratory Medicine
Social Bookmarking
 Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?